Giddyap, Islanders
Gain right for arena at Belmont
THE ISLANDERS scored their biggest goal of the season after the team was awarded the right to build a new arena at Belmont Park.
The development, confirmed by a source with knowledge of the stadium talks, means the Islanders, who have played in Brooklyn since 2015 after 43 years in Nassau County, are homeward bound.
A deal could be announced as early as Wednesday.
“Gov. Cuomo, my colleagues in government and I have worked very hard to make the best use out of Belmont,” state Sen. Todd Kaminsky said in a statement. “I believe that tomorrow’s announcement will benefit Long Island and the surrounding communities.”
The team now plays its home games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The team moved there after former Islanders owner Charles Wang was unable to get taxpayers to sign off on a new arena on the site of the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, the team’s home since 1972.
But the Islanders have the worst attendance in the National Hockey League, averaging about 11,642 a game this season, 4,000 fewer than it drew during its final season at the Coliseum.
In July, state officials sought proposals to develop the Belmont site with hopes of transforming Belmont Park into an entertainment, sports and retail complex.
The Islanders’ proposal beat out a bid from New York City FC, the city’s Major League Soccer club, which plays its games at Yankee Stadium.
The team was joined in its proposal by the Oak View Group, whose investors include Madison Square Garden Co., owned by James Dolan (right), and Mets owner Sterling Equities, which was founded by Fred Wilpon (far right).
The Islanders secured the deal with a hat trick of an 18,000-se at arena, 435,000 square feet of retail space and a plan to host 150 events a year. “The foundation has now been laid to make Belmont Park a reinvigorated economic engine for our region, which will strengthen the already existing racing industry, and make Nassau County a destination location,” said state Sen. Elaine Phillips. Among the issues unresolved is where the team will play until the new arena is ready. Onetemporary site on the table, according to a report, is the Nassau Coliseum.
The Isles and Barclays Center have a January deadline to open a renegotiation period for their 25-year lease, which must take place before either the team or arena can opt out of their existing deal.
The feeling in Brooklyn was don’t let the door hit ya on your way out, Long Islanders.
“There’s only one Brooklyn team for Barclays Center and that’s the Brooklyn Nets,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “We wish the Islanders well on their journey to Belmont, and they should consider Nassau Coliseum in the interim period.”