Report Says The Islanders and Barclays Center Are Parting Ways, But Doesn't?
[Bloomberg] – After two years and countless complaints, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center has concluded it’s no longer worth it to host the New York Islanders.
The arena, which is already home to the NBA’s Nets and one of the world’s top-grossing concert venues, would make more money without the National Hockey League team, according to people familiar with the facility’s financials.
Barclays Center wouldn’t speak to the future of the Islanders… The lease can be terminated by either the Islanders or arena management. If Barclays Center nixes the deal, then the Islanders’ tenancy would end after the 2018-19 season. Then the question becomes: Where will the Islanders play?
So I put my two journalism classes [200 level, no big deal] to work and read the entire article, and for a report that’s titled “Barclays Center is Dumping the Islanders” there’s a whole lot of “ifs” & “cans” thrown around, while failing to provide any real breaking news about the Barclays officially parting ways with the team. I mean it even says the BC wouldn’t speak on the future of the Islanders. So uhhh why is everyone making a big deal about this article? Because it kinda said everything while saying nothing at all.
It’s been pretty obvious the Islanders are unhappy with their end of the deal in Brooklyn. Shitty sightlines, terrible #brand management, unhappy fans, and the opportunity to play on a sheet of Pina Colada favored Slurpee night in and night out hasn’t led to the best vibes within the Isles new home. With the only real incentives being 1. It’s not Kansas City, 2. That sweet $53M check that’s guaranteed from the BC each year, and 3. It’s not Kansas City.
But what this article does brings to light is that not only are the Islanders unhappy with the deal that’s never seemed to shake getting off on the wrong foot, now the Barclays people are unhappy as well. Making it devastatingly obvious that it’s not if the “25-year” “iron-clad” deal will be broken, but when. Could be next year, could be 2019, could be tomorrow.
Not exactly the hottest start for first year owners in John Ledecky & Scott Malkin. Who’s bright and shiny new toy of a hockey team has only now found itself escaping the bottom of the league standings and finally generating some genuine interest in what seems like a completely different team from years past. With no dead-set option in sight and the pressure turned all the way up, it’s directly to the drawing boards on finding a home in New York for this team, as both the organization and the league have made it clear that moving out of New York is the absolute last option.
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Immediately people were asking me just where I think the team will land and to be honest I don’t think John Ledecky himself knows at this point in time. In a perfect world that Citi Field parking lot turns into JTs new home by 2020 but then again, when has anything perfect happened to this franchise?*
*Besides JT of course.
PS – for those thinking this means it’s back to the Coliseum. That’s the pipiest pipedream of them all.
In July, Bloomberg News reported that Ledecky and Malkin were considering building a new arena adjacent to Citi Field in Queens. Prokhorov now owns the team’s former home, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, but the owners paid a hefty premium for the team in 2014 based on the pending move to New York City. They have shown no interest in returning to Long Island.