Arena: Isles Ask Nassau For $4 Million In Repairs

According to Newsday (but broken by Chris Botta), the Islanders have asked the Nassau County Legislature for $4 million dollars to repair the "antiquated" Nassau Coliseum. As per the lease signed by the Islanders and Nassau County, the County is responsible to maintain and repair the Coliseum whenever necessary.

CH: What a great, sly move by the Islanders. They are going to take a lot of heat from the average Nassau resident here ("They want to take MORE of our tax money?"), but let's think about this. The County is required to pay for the repairs. Where do you think that money is coming from? Most likely the general fund, which comes from the taxpayers. It just goes to show that the Coliseum is in terrible shape, so they can continue the status quo with these quick fixes (that cost millions at a time), or they can build a new one and be done with it. Yes, it is more expensive, but the quality of life at a new arena is ten times that of the Coliseum. But again, everyone reading this knows all that.

It's bold, but it's smart, because it is exhibit A of why the Coliseum needs a facelift to be rebuilt. It makes the people who think the Coliseum is still a brand new piece of architecture look stupid. That actually might be my favorite argument against the referendum: "There's nothing wrong with the Coliseum! I went to a game there and it was fine!" Yeah, I went to an OHL playoff game in Erie and that was fine (actually one of the most fun games I've been to). This is a professional hockey team and they should play in a first-class, professional building. All of us have attachments to the Nassau Coliseum - a lot of us, including myself, practically grew up there. But we have to stop living in the past here.

The Islanders will get criticized, and maybe rightly so, but they at least showed everyone that there is a problem. Recognizing that will hopefully go and change the minds of a lot of people who think the Coliseum matches up well to a professional sports arena.

AT: This should quiet the opposition who claims the Isles will stay in the building past 2015 and that the building itself will stay open after 2015. It won't. It's broken, it's falling apart, and they'll be lucky if they can get it to maintain the Isles for the next 4 years. Yes, it's got character, but the old barn is falling apart and has been for years. We all knew that. I'm just not sure how this move is going to sway voters that are undecided. It'll reinforce the yes voters, but if I was undecided I would see the Isles asking Nassau for money as indicative of the future. We'll see. I'm not sure if this will play any significant role in the process.