We’ve been discussing the Barclay’s Center as the future home of the NY Islanders for longer than I’d like to admit. Having spent some of my formative youth in Brooklyn, I’m not exactly keen on the idea. I’m also not keen on the idea of having to travel from Suffolk county to the Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn for a hockey game. For me, having the Islanders in Brooklyn would be no different from having them in Kansas City, as in I have no desire to travel to either.
But can Hockey actually survive in Brooklyn? I’m not sure.
Two years ago I was contacted by the Brooklyn Aviators, a Federal Hockey League team occupying space at the Aviator Sports & Events Center that houses two NHL size sheets of ice, but seats only 2,500 people for hockey. They did a great job promoting the team in a professional matter and the games were quite enjoyable.
But after two short seasons, the Aviators have moved to Dayton OH. Bye-bye Brooklyn.
So today there was an announcement that the KHL President, Alexander Medvedev will be bringing two regular season KHL games to the Barclays Center in January of 2013, a few months after the New York Islanders play the NJ Devils in a pre-season game on October 2nd. That is, of course, if the next hockey season starts on time.
The CEO of Barclays Center, Brett Yormark, may feel that “Brooklyn is an untapped hockey market” but I just don’t see it. Certainly bringing two Russian teams may play well with the very large Russian population of the area. But to think it can sustain a hockey team for 41 home games a year may be slightly unrealistic.
No matter what anyone says about the amount of public transportation available towards the Barclays Center, those of us who live on the East end of Long Island will not be able to get to games on time or be able to afford it.
I could be wrong, but something about this sounds like a Russian circus -- sans the dancing bears.
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