New York Islanders owner Jon Ledecky touched on Barclays, Belmont and the Coliseum Tuesday afternoon. Not all the news was good.
Well, not all of the news was good if you’re like me and have continually held out hope that the Islanders would eventually return to the building they should never have left.
Ledecky once again threw ice cold water on any thought of returning to Coliseum. Said even if they wanted to, NHL wouldn’t approve it.
— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) October 10, 2017
Newsday‘s Jim Baumbach was one of those to attend the press conference with Ledecky. While this news about a return to the Coliseum comes as no surprise, it only reminds us of how completely inept the arena process surrounding this team has been.
Speaking of ineptitude and arenas, the Isles will remain at Barclays Center for at least another year.
Breaking: Jon Ledecky says Isles will definitely play at Barclays Center next year. Says total focus is on securing Belmont arena.
— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) October 10, 2017
Islanders fans can look forward to another year of obstructed views, mediocre ice conditions and a scoreboard that will never be centered. As for Barclays CEO Brett Yormark’s remarks that the economics of the deal don’t work, Ledecky had an answer.
Ledecky on Yormark’s comments re Barclays/NYI economics not working. “I guess he’s saying the people on their side didn’t make a good deal.”
— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) October 10, 2017
As for a new arena at Belmont Park, that’s where ownership’s complete focus is at. “We have blinders on for Belmont,” Ledecky told Baumbach.
Jon Ledecky: “We have blinders on for Belmont.” Declined to address how looming opt out date could impact the road to get there.
— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) October 10, 2017
That said, Ledecky refused to get into the details or specifics of the request for proposal (RFP) that they submitted to New York State, saying only that it served their interests to keep everything private while the state evaluates everything.
