I am not one for the " moving Story " with the Isles, as I do not live near. However, I would like to see the Isles stay on the Island. I am in fear the the regional politics will not allow the Isles to do so.

It is a shame that a once VERY PROUD dynasty, has been reduced to this. It has not been one man, or one owner. It has been several men and a few owners that have caused this conundrum.

It is too bad. The history and tradition of the team deserve better..

Here's a bit of reality for everyone (and I know most of you already know this): Nassau County and Long Island as a whole generally doesn't care about the Islanders. For every one Isles fan, there are probably five people who don't even watch hockey. The politicans don't care about the Islanders. They care about votes. They care about staying in office and nothing else. That's why they will not stick their neck's out for the team. The ABLI certainly doesn't care about the Islanders and they don't care about Long Island. All they care about is getting their membership involved in development so they make money. That's why they fought tooth and nail against the referrendum. It wasn't because the arena deal was a bad one for Nassau or Long Island. It was because the ABLI and its members didn't stand to make any money off the arena if it did pass and get state approval.

Having a bunch of Isles fans turn out for this fiasco this afternoon will not have any impact. The only way an arena gets built and the Isles remain in Nassau is if it is undisputed that a new arena with the Isles as an anchor tenant will be more financially viable and proftiable for the Hub than the other proposals being put forth by the ABLI or other developers. Its all about money. Its not about civic pride or "tradition" or "Long Island's only major professional sports franchise". Its about money. Once people start to understand that, they will see that this team has no future in Nassau County.

how about Brooklyn? someone will be playing there next year for a pre-season game
- dmnted

Brooklyn is the most realistic future option for the team. Unless something else crops up in Queens, Brooklyn is likely.

Arena is too small for a long term option. Holds 14,500 for hockey.
- Isles316

Do we need to get into this again today?

Do we need to get into this again today?
- Jethro09

If you only average 10,000 fans; who cares if the stadium only holds 14,500..

Am I missing something..

Do we need to get into this again today?
- Jethro09

can we talk abit anything else...lets rip PA or something

can we talk abit anything else...lets rip PA or something
- NYI78

Ty NOhart is going to take us to the promised land!!!!!! yeah!!!!

If you only average 10,000 fans; who cares if the stadium only holds 14,500..

Am I missing something..
- bixll

No. You're not. The Barclays is sufficent to hold an NHL team. The Barclays is only 1,700 fewer seats than the current NVMC, with 3x the luxury suites. The Barclays has only 500 fewer upper bowl seats than the MTS Center in Winnipeg and that arena is doing just fine for the Jets.

Bettman and Co. are telling everyone that the Barclays is "insufficent" because they want the team to play in an arena that can seat 18000+ people as opposed to 14,500 so they can generate more revenue for the league and the team when the place acutally sells out. While it would be better for the Isles and the NHL to have an arena with more seating, the Barclays is "sufficent" to house an NHL franchise. If 15,000 works for the Jets in Winnipeg, I dont' see how 14,500 doesn't work for the Isles in Brooklyn.

No. You're not. The Barclays is sufficent to hold an NHL team. The Barclays is only 1,700 fewer seats than the current NVMC, with 3x the luxury suites. The Barclays has only 500 fewer upper bowl seats than the MTS Center in Winnipeg and that arena is doing just fine for the Jets.

Bettman and Co. are telling everyone that the Barclays is "insufficent" because they want the team to play in an arena that can seat 18000+ people as opposed to 14,500 so they can generate more revenue for the league and the team when the place acutally sells out. While it would be better for the Isles and the NHL to have an arena with more seating, the Barclays is "sufficent" to house an NHL franchise. If 15,000 works for the Jets in Winnipeg, I dont' see how 14,500 doesn't work for the Isles in Brooklyn.
- Jethro09

100% accurate! The league & Wang dont want to settle for Brooklyn (they will if thats the last option)
They are going to keep playing every card they can till they get what they expect an NHL franchise should be playing in.

XxNYIxX

Ty NOhart is going to take us to the promised land!!!!!! yeah!!!!
- niteislander

as unimpressive as he has been can he be worse than Staios, Eaton and Mottau??

No. You're not. The Barclays is sufficent to hold an NHL team. The Barclays is only 1,700 fewer seats than the current NVMC, with 3x the luxury suites. The Barclays has only 500 fewer upper bowl seats than the MTS Center in Winnipeg and that arena is doing just fine for the Jets.

Bettman and Co. are telling everyone that the Barclays is "insufficent" because they want the team to play in an arena that can seat 18000+ people as opposed to 14,500 so they can generate more revenue for the league and the team when the place acutally sells out. While it would be better for the Isles and the NHL to have an arena with more seating, the Barclays is "sufficent" to house an NHL franchise. If 15,000 works for the Jets in Winnipeg, I dont' see how 14,500 doesn't work for the Isles in Brooklyn.
- Jethro09

Figured as much..after the new place is sold out for a year or two straight, then they can think of another building..

The Leafs have been sold out for many years in a row. You can't buy a ticket at the game...

If you want to have a laugh, call the Leafs box office before the game on Saturday, ask for 4 tickets on the blueline, 10 rows up for tonights game...They will laugh at you..

100% accurate! The league & Wang dont want to settle for Brooklyn (they will if thats the last option)
They are going to keep playing every card they can till they get what they expect an NHL franchise should be playing in.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Someone needs to realistically explain why the Isles won't be moving well away from N.Y. beyond simple hope that nostalgia will somehow trump practicality. If their best option outside of Nassau is Wang "settling" for Brooklyn, where he'll once again be just a tenant, why would he not sell the team to someone who will pay a small fortune for the opportunity to move it into a hockey-starved Canadian market? For a guy who was on the radio recently saying he wished he never bought the team, I find it very hard to believe that tradition and a love for that very team would compel him to stay in NY while more lucrative options await elsewhere.

Edit -- assuming they don't get what they want from Nassau, of course, which looks more likely with each passing day.

Someone needs to realistically explain why the Isles won't be moving well away from N.Y. beyond simple hope that nostalgia will somehow trump practicality. If their best option outside of Nassau is Wang "settling" for Brooklyn, where he'll once again be just a tenant, why would he not sell the team to someone who will pay a small fortune for the opportunity to move it into a hockey-starved Canadian market? For a guy who was on the radio recently saying he wished he never bought the team, I find it very hard to believe that tradition and a love for that very team would compel him to stay in NY while more lucrative options await elsewhere.
- UIF

Oh, I did not hear that..

That may change everything..He may be a seller and take the highest bid. Wash his hands and be done with the team..That would be great for the team, but I wonder where they end up.

League wants to be in Quebec City or Seattle, I heard on TSN the other night. Maybe.

Someone needs to realistically explain why the Isles won't be moving well away from N.Y. beyond simple hope that nostalgia will somehow trump practicality. If their best option outside of Nassau is Wang "settling" for Brooklyn, where he'll once again be just a tenant, why would he not sell the team to someone who will pay a small fortune for the opportunity to move it into a hockey-starved Canadian market? For a guy who was on the radio recently saying he wished he never bought the team, I find it very hard to believe that tradition and a love for that very team would compel him to stay in NY while more lucrative options await elsewhere.
- UIF

That is incorrect. There are not more lucrative options elsewhere. That is why Wang wouldn't be "settling" for Brooklyn. Brooklyn is in the heart of the New York City Market. Tons of revenue is waiting to be tapped into in this market. Its why the Nets are going there. The cable contract, the corporate sponsorship opportunities, the population density to pull from to sell the place out with the convenience of mass transit. Brooklyn has a leg up on every other potential location. Truth is, the only reason Nassau County is even in the conversation is because the team is currently playing there and it is geographically close to the center of the fan base.

If you look at the other mentioned possibilities out of NY (KC, Seattle, Quebec), CW and the Isles would be tenants there as well. Seattle and KC don't have the population density of Nassau County, let alone NYC. Cable contracts in those areas won't be worth nearly as much as they are in NYC or Long Island. those factors alone take those cities out of the equasion as a more lucrative option than Brooklyn or even a new place in Nassau. Quebec is also building a municipality-owned arena, CW would be a tenant there as well and Quebec is more likely to get Phoenix to relocate there than the Isles.

The most important reason why Brooklyn is a more likely option than other municipalities is the fact that the NHL doesn't want to lose a team in the NY market. Even though the Rangers and Devils (sort of) are part of this market, it is in the League's best interests to have as many teams in the NYC market (that can be supported) as possible. This area has supported three teams for 30 years. It can continue to do so.

BD made a good point: CW can be a tenant, as long as he's given a deal where he is practically assured of turning a profit every season. If that's the case, he has no incentive to sell the team now, after losing over $200M on them when he can hold onto it for another 10 years or so and potentailly recoup his losses. As bad as CW is at making hockey decisions, he's a brilliant businessman. So are the guys affiliated with the Barclays. I'm sure they can hammer out a deal that would be beneficial to all parties involved.

That is incorrect. There are not more lucrative options elsewhere. That is why Wang wouldn't be "settling" for Brooklyn. Brooklyn is in the heart of the New York City Market. Tons of revenue is waiting to be tapped into in this market. Its why the Nets are going there. The cable contract, the corporate sponsorship opportunities, the population density to pull from to sell the place out with the convenience of mass transit. Brooklyn has a leg up on every other potential location. Truth is, the only reason Nassau County is even in the conversation is because the team is currently playing there and it is geographically close to the center of the fan base.

If you look at the other mentioned possibilities out of NY (KC, Seattle, Quebec), CW and the Isles would be tenants there as well. Seattle and KC don't have the population density of Nassau County, let alone NYC. Cable contracts in those areas won't be worth nearly as much as they are in NYC or Long Island. those factors alone take those cities out of the equasion as a more lucrative option than Brooklyn or even a new place in Nassau. Quebec is also building a municipality-owned arena, CW would be a tenant there as well and Quebec is more likely to get Phoenix to relocate there than the Isles.

The most important reason why Brooklyn is a more likely option than other municipalities is the fact that the NHL doesn't want to lose a team in the NY market. Even though the Rangers and Devils (sort of) are part of this market, it is in the League's best interests to have as many teams in the NYC market (that can be supported) as possible. This area has supported three teams for 30 years. It can continue to do so.

BD made a good point: CW can be a tenant, as long as he's given a deal where he is practically assured of turning a profit every season. If that's the case, he has no incentive to sell the team now, after losing over $200M on them when he can hold onto it for another 10 years or so and potentailly recoup his losses. As bad as CW is at making hockey decisions, he's a brilliant businessman. So are the guys affiliated with the Barclays. I'm sure they can hammer out a deal that would be beneficial to all parties involved.
- Jethro09

The question is:

- Does wang keep the team or sell ??


This would change the entire debate..

The question is:

- Does wang keep the team or sell ??


This would change the entire debate..
- bixll

sell if it works

The question is:

- Does wang keep the team or sell ??


This would change the entire debate..
- bixll

Who knows? But from a financial perspective, it makes no sense for him to sell the team for pennies on the dollar, which right now is the team's value. He'd be selling the team for less than he bought it for and for much less than he paid for it plus the annual losses he's accrued.

Financially speaking, IF he gets the right deal with the Barclays or a new arena in Nassau, it makes more sense for him to keep the team and recoup his losses than to sell. CW is pas a point of no return. He has lost so much money on this team and its value is so low that he can't afford to sell it now. Its like selling your house if you're under water on it. It makes no sense to do so.

Who knows? But from a financial perspective, it makes no sense for him to sell the team for pennies on the dollar, which right now is the team's value. He'd be selling the team for less than he bought it for and for much less than he paid for it plus the annual losses he's accrued.

Financially speaking, IF he gets the right deal with the Barclays or a new arena in Nassau, it makes more sense for him to keep the team and recoup his losses than to sell. CW is pas a point of no return. He has lost so much money on this team and its value is so low that he can't afford to sell it now. Its like selling your house if you're under water on it. It makes no sense to do so.
- Jethro09

With creative accounting, it is easy to show losses or precieved losses. I doubt that they are as high as published.. If CW is tired of the game, sell it for the 200+ million and move on..Have nice day CW.

That is incorrect. There are not more lucrative options elsewhere. That is why Wang wouldn't be "settling" for Brooklyn. Brooklyn is in the heart of the New York City Market. Tons of revenue is waiting to be tapped into in this market. Its why the Nets are going there. The cable contract, the corporate sponsorship opportunities, the population density to pull from to sell the place out with the convenience of mass transit. Brooklyn has a leg up on every other potential location. Truth is, the only reason Nassau County is even in the conversation is because the team is currently playing there and it is geographically close to the center of the fan base.

If you look at the other mentioned possibilities out of NY (KC, Seattle, Quebec), CW and the Isles would be tenants there as well. Seattle and KC don't have the population density of Nassau County, let alone NYC. Cable contracts in those areas won't be worth nearly as much as they are in NYC or Long Island. those factors alone take those cities out of the equasion as a more lucrative option than Brooklyn or even a new place in Nassau. Quebec is also building a municipality-owned arena, CW would be a tenant there as well and Quebec is more likely to get Phoenix to relocate there than the Isles.

The most important reason why Brooklyn is a more likely option than other municipalities is the fact that the NHL doesn't want to lose a team in the NY market. Even though the Rangers and Devils (sort of) are part of this market, it is in the League's best interests to have as many teams in the NYC market (that can be supported) as possible. This area has supported three teams for 30 years. It can continue to do so.

BD made a good point: CW can be a tenant, as long as he's given a deal where he is practically assured of turning a profit every season. If that's the case, he has no incentive to sell the team now, after losing over $200M on them when he can hold onto it for another 10 years or so and potentailly recoup his losses. As bad as CW is at making hockey decisions, he's a brilliant businessman. So are the guys affiliated with the Barclays. I'm sure they can hammer out a deal that would be beneficial to all parties involved.
- Jethro09

Well, yours is the best argument I've seen so far, Jethro. But a few things...Wang wouldn't be a tenant in Quebec. He would sell the team for more than he paid for it to someone else who would move it there. He won't get that kind of money from a local buyer...he's devalued this franchise to the point where it's worth less than what he paid, and you're right...he's lost even more money since then. No one local will pay what Wang would want to get just to be in the situation he's in now. But for the chance to move it to Canada...someone would probably pay well north of what the team's worth for that opportunity.

Wang has painted himself into a corner. The Islanders were his leverage to develop that land...it's why he bought the team in the first place. But today, all these years later, it's not very strong leverage. The team's been irrelevant for so long thanks to horrible management and very little on-ice success that no one particularly cares anymore if they stay or go...outside of a handful of diehards like us...some of whom don't even live on or near the Island anymore. I know Wang sits at the draft table and I don't doubt he has grown a bit attached to the team, but I don't think it's as significant an attachment as some believe...certainly not enough for him to say what he did about whether he'd still buy the team if he could do it all over again. If he gets a great deal to sell the team to a buyer outside of NY, I don't think he'd say, "No, this is Long Island's team!"

I hope you're right about everyone working to strike a nice deal in Brooklyn. Could it happen? Maybe. I do think Wang missed the boat a bit on it. A better time to get involved there would have been when they first reached out to him years ago as the Lighthouse was failing...before construction reached the point where the seating would be the fewest in the league for hockey. If he got involved then, he probably could have plunked down some money toward the cost of construction and become a partner in the deal...sharing in all of the arena's revenue from Isles' games, Nets' games and concerts. But maybe they can still work something like that out. I'm glad he's finally at least talking to the folks there now...it took about as long as it takes this team to make a lineup change!

For Nassau...maybe something gets done, but I think the referendum showed just how little leverage Wang has in that situation as owner of the Islanders.

If you only average 10,000 fans; who cares if the stadium only holds 14,500..

Am I missing something..
- bixll

I'm sick of this nonsense, as well. This means nothing....the boxes are where the money is made....especially in NYC. It's a moot point, and as I have said repeatedly, I have millions of reasons why Brooklyn will be at the top of the list if Nassau totally f**ks this up- the dollars that Charles Wang gets paid every year from that TV contract....and if HE chooses not to stay in a Brooklyn scenario, SOMEONE will buy the team for that deal....I'm certain, in fact, that he's ALREADY been approached about that by SOMEONE. The Barclays Center is a BUILDING, folks, not a drawing, and it's still New York, no matter what BS everyone always tries to float about a "small market"...smaller than what? Quebec? Hartford? Kansas City, where no one gives a sh*t about anything but the Chiefs? Seriously? Anyone who thinks NY wouldn't be the first choice, get your heads out of your as*es...please. It's really hard to breathe that way.

Well, yours is the best argument I've seen so far, Jethro. But a few things...Wang wouldn't be a tenant in Quebec. He would sell the team for more than he paid for it to someone else who would move it there. He won't get that kind of money from a local buyer...he's devalued this franchise to the point where it's worth less than what he paid, and you're right...he's lost even more money since then. No one local will pay what Wang would want to get just to be in the situation he's in now. But for the chance to move it to Canada...someone would probably pay well north of what the team's worth for that opportunity.

Wang has painted himself into a corner. The Islanders were his leverage to develop that land...it's why he bought the team in the first place. But today, all these years later, it's not very strong leverage. The team's been irrelevant for so long thanks to horrible management and very little on-ice success that no one particularly cares anymore if they stay or go...outside of a handful of diehards like us...some of whom don't even live on or near the Island anymore. I know Wang sits at the draft table and I don't doubt he has grown a bit attached to the team, but I don't think it's as significant an attachment as some believe...certainly not enough for him to say what he did about whether he'd still buy the team if he could do it all over again. If he gets a great deal to sell the team to a buyer outside of NY, I don't think he'd say, "No, this is Long Island's team!"

I hope you're right about everyone working to strike a nice deal in Brooklyn. Could it happen? Maybe. I do think Wang missed the boat a bit on it. A better time to get involved there would have been when they first reached out to him years ago as the Lighthouse was failing...before construction reached the point where the seating would be the fewest in the league for hockey. If he got involved then, he probably could have plunked down some money toward the cost of construction and become a partner in the deal...sharing in all of the arena's revenue from Isles' games, Nets' games and concerts. But maybe they can still work something like that out. I'm glad he's finally at least talking to the folks there now...it took about as long as it takes this team to make a lineup change!

For Nassau...maybe something gets done, but I think the referendum showed just how little leverage Wang has in that situation as owner of the Islanders.
- UIF

But whoever bought the team from Wang to move them to Quebec would be a tenant. They may not be willing to meet CW's asking price for the team if they too would only be tenants in Quebec. Wang paid $180M for the team (I believe). Its worth about $150M now. He's lost $200+M on it already. Unless he's getting north of $300M for the team, its not worth it to sell IF he gets a deal with the Barclays that guarantees CW either development rights and revenue from the deal or a guaranteed profit per year for having the team there. But I agree, his loyalty to Long Island won't prohibit him from selling the team. He'd sell them in a minute flat if the right deal came along.

With creative accounting, it is easy to show losses or precieved losses. I doubt that they are as high as published.. If CW is tired of the game, sell it for the 200+ million and move on..Have nice day CW.
- bixll

What is the reason that you doubt he's lost $20M/season on the team? Instead of being cynical (and I ususally am by nature), I see a team playing in the oldest sports arena in the country (and Canada, I believe), with practically no luxury suites, situated on Long Island, that has been 1/3 empty practically every night he has owned the team. Don't forget, he also owned the team for about an 8 year period when it was burdened by a horrendous lease with the Building Managing agent, SMG, that basically pillaged whaever revenue the team did bring into the arena.

Its not that hard to believe that CW has legitimately lost $200M on this team since he's owned it. Couple that with the fact that he paid $180M for it and its now valued at about $150M, I don't think he'll get a good enough offer to sell the team where he can recoup a significant amount of the money he lost on this team so far.

Once again we are talking about this. I figure this lets worry about the season and playing hockey while our team is still here. I still honestly feel this team is going no where and they will stay in New York no matter what. Suffolk said they would love to have them Queens said the same thing and so did Brooklyn. Once everyones ees that Nassau is just the garbage dump of Long Island then we will hear an announcement. This team is not going to Quebec, Kansas City, Seattle, LAs Vegas, Wall Walla Washington no where they will be playing here in New York. To much history to much of a big rivalry for the NHL to give up on. Bettman is playing the game with Wang and when the smokes clears here we will be talking Islander hockey and talking about how our coach sucks and players and the normal. Chin up Islaner fans it is not all gloom and doom as the press wants you to think and feel

What is wrong with you?
Apparently you didn't read the question that was asked.

Those are not her legs.
google her name and you will images of her.
I was simply answering the question in a polite way.

She does not have the legs of a 20 year old cheerleader.
- IronMaidnick

There's plenty wrong with me.
I know who she is and have in fact met her before.
And your wrong about those not being her legs. I have seen the full photo.

Why on earth did I even entertain this in the first place. Someone put me out to pasture now.

Once again we are talking about this. I figure this lets worry about the season and playing hockey while our team is still here. I still honestly feel this team is going no where and they will stay in New York no matter what. Suffolk said they would love to have them Queens said the same thing and so did Brooklyn. Once everyones ees that Nassau is just the garbage dump of Long Island then we will hear an announcement. This team is not going to Quebec, Kansas City, Seattle, LAs Vegas, Wall Walla Washington no where they will be playing here in New York. To much history to much of a big rivalry for the NHL to give up on. Bettman is playing the game with Wang and when the smokes clears here we will be talking Islander hockey and talking about how our coach sucks and players and the normal. Chin up Islaner fans it is not all gloom and doom as the press wants you to think and feel
- kasperrko

I admire your optimism, but basing all of your hopes on the team not moving simply because they're the Islanders and they're rivals with the Rangers is not very realistic. Jethro brings up some valid points...best arguments I've read so far. In the end, it's all about money. That's what'll determine the franchise's fate...not a rivalry that anyone outside of the state doesn't care much about.