The Nassau County Industrial Agency voted to grant the New York Islanders tax breaks on what will be a $10 million upgrade.
Before the New York Islanders can return to the Coliseum on Dec. 1, a $10 million renovation must take place to make the arena suitable for NHL hockey.A state grant awarded to the Islanders provides them with $6 million of the remainder, which will be paid off by the team.
The Islanders plan to split time between both Barclays Center and the Nassau Coliseum through the next three seasons with the soonest action taking place on Sept. 16 when the Islanders play the Flyers in the second preseason contest, just one day shy of when the last one took place in 2017.
With another $10 million going into the Coliseum, one has to wonder if the Islanders could be preparing to relocate back altogether and just stand pat before the completion of the Belmont Arena.
It’s well-noted that Barclays wants out — badly. So much so, that they are willing to push them into Nassau Coliseum. On paper, and if this had been posed a couple of years ago, it sounds great.
Now, after the $165 million facelift and with its major revenue base gutted, the Coliseum return is a financial head-scratcher. If the folks at Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment would be willing to pay the Islanders the difference, or a part of that, that’s a different story.
There is still no official word on where potential post-season games would be played, and even more so what the team would do if they’re at the Coliseum full-time.
Whatever the case may be, all signs point to the Islanders spending a lot of time at Nassau Coliseum over the next several years. Given that this year is already set, look for news to start leaking as the season progresses going off of the Belmont/Coliseum announcement time.
