Arena: Mangano unveils economic development plan including new Coliseum

Ed Mangano, trying once more to get a new Nassau Coliseum at the HUB site, unveiled plans to develop a new arena at the HUB site along with a massive parking garage, residential and retail space and a bioscience research and development park. This plan will competing with several others as part of Governor Cuomo's Empire State Development Corp, which will give state funds to whichever projects win out. The state's decision will come in December. The plan also mentions Belmont as a possible site for a new Coliseum if the HUB is no longer viable due to restricted space or other concerns. You can read the full article here.

AT: Here we go again. Albeit, this project would be jump started from state funds and not be voted upon by the public, it's hard to be optimistic about anything concerning keeping the Islanders in Nassau County. If you look at the projected layout of what the HUB site would be, there is very little room for parking outside of the direct area outside of the Coliseum. If the parking garage - which would be shared with the bioscience center and the Coliseum - were to hold 7,000 vehicles, where does everyone else go? Plus, parking in an enclosed garage like that would create chaos on nights where the Islanders sell out. Getting out of the Coliseum as it is right now is already a major hassle, getting out of it when you're on the top floor of a multistoried parking garage sounds like a nightmare. This would have to be designed to the highest standards for easy in and out access for mass traffic, otherwise we'll have simply solved one problem and gained another.

It's notable as well that there looks to be plans for a light rail system, which Mangano is known to be in favor of, wrapping itself around the HUB area extending into the Nassau County Community College area and down Hempstead Turnpike. This would be a great addition to the HUB site as right now, the nearest LIRR station is not the most easily accessible site when coming to and from the Coliseum. An addition such as a light rail system would make it a lot more tempting for commuters who simply want to jump on the LIRR and not use a taxi or bus to finish the ride.

Obviously, we have to see more details. But this looks like it will be the final ditch effort for Mangano and Nassau County to really keep the Islanders in Nassau County and retain an arena in Nassau as well. I'm very curious to see Wang's opinion on this and where his support lies at this point, as a plan like this would obviously need private developers in addition to state funds to achieve anything. Would a plan like this even be economically viable for Nassau County?

Arena: Nassau Looks Into Belmont; Wang Does Not Submit Willets Point Bid

Recently, two bits of news regarding the Islanders future were reported in various publications. First, Crain's New York Business news reported that despite Queens officials best efforts, Charles Wang decided not to submit a big for Phase I of the oft-talked about Willets Point project.

NYCEDC

CH: Obviously, this is extremely disappointing. When Charles Wang announced he was going to explore all of his options, a lot of people assumed this project would be at the top of the list. Clearly, that is not the case - despite the public invitations from Queens officials. That said, it does not spark the end of the Islanders in Queens speculation. There is still an opportunity to build an arena next to CitiField, for the time being. If the Wilpons win the bid for the Willets Point project, they may have more capital to help make Flushing Meadows more than just a seasonal destination. If all the pieces of the puzzle come together, there is still a chance. But as of now, it's not a big one at all.

AT: Definitely disappointed at the lack of action here. Queens was a very viable destination, and while as Carey said it's not all said and done there, this is a pretty big indication that Queens isn't the highest of priorities for Charles Wang. At this point, especially with a place like Queens, it's all just a game of wait and see.

A new opportunity in Nassau County came about recently, as a report from Newsday states that a new arena may be targeted in Belmont, to coincide with the proposed Shinnecock casino next to the Belmont Raceway.

CH: This could be the perfect storm that gets everything done. Yeah, I know how that sounds - here we go again. To be honest, I agree with that sentiment. The reality is that no one wants to discuss this topic anymore. We're all sick of it. But an arena at Belmont Park benefits everyone. There is an LIRR station there, it's right off the Cross Island Expressway and the Southern State Parkway. It's easily accessible and is a prime location still in Nassau County. Obviously, more details will have to come about before this gains any real traction. But there is at least hope, and that is important at this stage.

AT: Although Belmont would be a longer commute for myself and other Suffolk County residents, the LIRR stop right there would be a huge positive and would save us all a lot of gas. Belmont could become a new "HUB" so to speak, having a race track, a casino, and an arena all in one major area. Now that is something that could really be the lynchpin in bringing in an enormous amount of tax dollars back to Nassau County.

Arena: ABLI Announces New Coliseum Plan

Randi Marshall from Newsday reports a new plan for the site of the Nassau Coliseum, this time created by the Association of Better Long Island. The plan is for $347 million, all privately funded, and includes $100 million for renovations of the Nassau Coliseum. The Coliseum will supposedly be made larger and taller, and will include extra seats and suites. According to the article, the plan also includes a minor league baseball stadium, ice rink, a parking garage, and retail/restaurant space.

The ABLI has not reached out to Charles Wang yet. However, County Executive Ed Mangano is aware of the potential plan.

Nassau County expects to call for a formal proposal stage before the end of the year.

CH: And here we go again. Without getting into the gory details, mostly because there are not, there's not much else to say other than I support any means to keep the Islanders in Nassau County (and New York as a whole). If that means sleeping with the enemy (in this case the ABLI), so be it. This certainly qualifies as "exploring all options," so I hope Charles Wang sits down and listens to what these guys have to say. But for now, there's not much else to report. This is the plan they are proposing. While the renovation may be a lowball for now, there's no reason to say that won't go up if it ever gets finalized. If they do end up winning the RFP, then so be it. I will be there rooting for it to get done for the Islanders and for Nassau County. The time of political and personal grudges needs to end. It's time to work together.

AT: As Carey said, even if it means getting involved with ABLI, who spearheaded the defeat of the referendum in August for what mostly seemed to be their own personal goals, I'm all for any plan to keep the Islanders in Nassau County. This can't be about personal relationships and feuds, it has to be about keeping those tax dollars on Long Island, not in Brooklyn or Queens. Hopefully both sides can suck up their pride and get something done so that a shovel is in the ground and a new or renovated coliseum is done in time for the 2015-2016 season. If not, the only people that will be hurting will be the fans and Nassau County residents once again.

Arena: What Comes Next?

It's been a little over two weeks since the August 1 referendum was handily defeated. Since then, Nassau County has put out the start of an RFP process (Mangano was not apparently happy with the results). Three local municipalities - Brooklyn, Queens, and Suffolk County - have publicly expressed their interest in becoming the new home of the New York Islanders. And all the while, Islander fans are left wondering what comes next. 

Photo Credit: Newsday

CH: To be honest, it is hard to really determine the answer to that question. The Islanders certainly have local options, and it is important to remember that because come 2015 if there is still no answer, there will be blame to go around if the team leaves New York state (or even the Long Island landmass). To be honest, they have zero reason to leave the area. But one has to wonder what is going through the mind of owner Charles Wang right now.

Wang seems steadfast in trying to make it work with Nassau County. On one hand, the loyalty he has shown the Islanders' home for almost 40 years is admirable. But on the other hand, you have to wonder why. Wang has been at this for close to ten years, and we are left in an almost identical situation as we were in year 1 - except for the 800 pound elephant in the room. That is, the lease is expiring in four years, and counting.

I think it is certainly possible the Islanders come to some sort of solution in Nassau County. Whether it's getting in bed with the enemy (ABLI) or some sort of tax increase that the County imposes without bonding (very unlikely), it can be done. But Wang should not sit around and wait for that to happen. To be honest, he cannot wait. If Wang is true to his words, he is out of options...in Nassau. He should be publicly courting other local municipalities.

To start, there is Queens. The RFP for the Willets Point project was pushed back to September 9. Wang could partner up with another developer to build a mini-Lighthouse in Queens. To go along with that, there is plenty of space in the Citi Field parking lot to build a hockey arena. This would make the Willets Point-Mets area a year round destination, which is exactly what the Lighthouse project was meant to be. There is already zoning for an arena in the parking lot, and if the Mets could benefit from it, they would not be any sort of roadblock to stop it. The advantages to Queens are plenty: corporate support, accessibility from New York City and Long Island alike, partnership with one of the MLB's most valuable franchises, and increased exposure all around.

Of course, a second Long Island proper option is Suffolk County. The Heartland Project in Brentwood is going into the final stages of planning and *could* be ready to go in the near future. If the Wolkoff's want to involve Wang and the Islanders, a partnership could be formed. Steve Levy, Suffolk's lame duck County Executive has already stated he has had very preliminary discussions with Wang about moving the team one county east.

But can Suffolk work? Absolutely, if it is in Brentwood. Yes, it is about 30 minutes east of Uniondale. But much of the Islanders fanbase comes from Long Island proper. For the commuters, I would recommend moving game start times back a half hour to 7:30, but it would really be no different than operating out of Nassau County. There would be similar corporate support, a similar culture and fanbase, and a retention of "Long Island's team." It's an option that should seriously be explored.

Finally, there is Brooklyn, which is a very interesting case. To start, Brooklyn is the only municipality with a new arena in the midst of construction. However, while it can fit a hockey rink, only 14,500 seats will be open for viewing, many of which will have obstructed views. Secondly, it is the most inaccessible area on Long Island for Nassau and Suffolk residents to get to. Long Islanders like to drive places, and getting to Brooklyn in the middle of rush hour would not be high on anyone's list. However, the fact of the matter is that they are constructing an arena and it is a viable place for the Islanders due to that corporate support and increased exposure. But it should be treated only as a last resort: either Brooklyn or out of state. I take Brooklyn.

Overall, Wang and the Islanders have options. It's just a matter of actually exploring them. And if he does, the Islanders can put the pressure on Nassau and hopefully come to a conclusion once and for all.

AT: I feel that at this point, Nassau is done unless they come up with a total sweetheart deal for Wang. With Murray as the TOH supervisor, it's very difficult to see that happening in time for the Islanders. After both public and private options were denied, it's time for Wang to puff out his chest and show Nassau he means business. Clearly, the incompetency of the government has gotten to an all time high, and we as fans can not and should not stand for it, nor should Wang as the owner. It's put up or shut up time, Nassau County. Do you want the only professional team you will ever have to stay?

Suffolk is definitely a possibility, though the concern of corporate support as mentioned is definitely one that should be heavily looked into before any real plans are submitted. As a Suffolk resident I would gladly welcome the Islanders, I'm just not sure if it's the most economically viable, especially if we have a losing team. I don't really think people traveling a little extra if they're in Nassau would be that much of a concern if the start times are moved out and if people are dedicated to the team. Plenty of people make it to Mets, Yankees and Ranger games on a pretty constant basis even on weekdays during heavy work season, so I don't think it would be that much of a problem. Suffolk also keeps the Islanders on Long Island, which is great just in terms of pride. The Heartland project is a very, very large project, so if something solid can come out of it, it'd be fantastic.

Queens is most definitely an option and seems to be openly courting the Isles coming west, and as with Suffolk I don't think travel would be that much of a problem, and people would adjust just find. Corporate support should and probably would be fantastic and you'd be in a great and convenient location. There's just one problem with this, however... Queens is not Long Island. Geographically, sure.. but if I'm recalling the logo correctly, Queens isn't even on the logo, nor is Brooklyn. While I personally wouldn't really care as my beloved New York Jets don't even play in New York, I know many fans would be very upset by the "Islanders" essentially leaving "Long Island". Queens would be a great solution economically and for the long run, but I simply have to question if any fans would lose some of their "fandom" so to speak if Queens were to be the option. Yet, as Carey mentioned, if it's between Brooklyn, Queens or out of state, I take the former two options ten times out of ten.

Brooklyn however I do not see as a viable option. Yes, there is an arena pretty much almost completed, but the occupancy is low for hockey, Wang would be splitting tenancy with another owner, and getting there for Long Island residents would be a major hassle. It simply does not seem to line up. I would however be completely fine with the Islanders staying there for a season while a new arena is being built in Nassau, Suffolk or Queens. Besides that, it'd be very difficult for me to jump on the Brooklyn bandwagon unless the only other option was out of state.

We definitely need to hear something soon. I know Wang doesn't want the players to be distracted from arena business, but we as fans are VERY distracted. Many fans are still very upset about the vote, and while personally I will root as hard as I ever did this year for the team, I know there are fans who think this is the end and may be much less enthused. I really hope there's something going on behind the scenes. Time is ticking away, and 2015 will be here before we know it.

Arena: Referendum Fails at 57%, Now What?

Last night, voters of Nassau County decided not to invest $400 million for the creation of a new Nassau Coliseum, minor league ballpark, and track and field complex. Of the over 140,000 votes cast yesterday, only 43% were yes votes. 

Today, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announced he is opening up an RFP process. Before putting out an official RFP, ideas for what to do with the property must be sent to Mr. Mangano's office by Friday, August 12, just ten days away. It is unknown if Charles Wang will put in his idea for the property (otherwise known as The Lighthouse, or a portion of it), but Wang is expected to make a statement on Wednesday according to ESPN.

CH: Obviously, this is a crushing blow. Not only did the referendum lose, it got demolished by over 20,000 votes. Clearly, the Islanders are in an incredibly dire situation at this point. There is no certainty about anything past 2015, Charles Wang is seemingly out of options in Nassau County, and the fans are left wondering "what now?"

As a group, Islander fans did an amazing job promoting this vote. They got over 65,000 YES votes, which in a normal special election in Nassau County should have been enough to win. However, that was not the case as it came out the Democrats sent out "robo-messages" to the senior citizen demographic, of who they were sure would mostly vote no. Either way, Islander fans proved again that they are one of the most passionate in the NHL. Every single fan who voted or brought people to the polls should be extremely proud of themselves.

But now for the real question: what now? Now, it is time to seriously look elsewhere. Both Queens and Brooklyn have came out in the last two days saying they would love to have the Islanders. Charles Wang is best off publicly negotiating with these municipalities, as it may be the only way for Nassau County to get their act together regarding the future of the team. So far, Nassau County has stalled and stalled as we inch closer to 2015. There is little time, maybe a year, for the Islanders to sign off on a new lease before the team will be left in a bind regarding where they will play the 2015-16 season.

That said, today brought new opportunity to those who believe the team should stay in Nassau County. Ed Mangano announced that he is opening a proposal stage for which developers can send to his office their plan to redevelop the Nassau Coliseum site. These proposals are due on August 12, just ten days from today, before the process will turn to an RFP. We have no idea if Charles Wang will send in a proposal, but it is hard to believe that he would just not take part. As he has said all along, he has to explore all of his options. That includes this - Nassau County is still an option for Charles Wang and the New York Islanders. For now.

Coincidentally (or not?), the Willets Point deadline in Queens was moved back from August 15 to September 9 over the past week, according to Randi Marshall. You can read into whether the Nassau deadline was expedited or not, but it is my opinion that none of this is any coincidence. I would wait to jump off any ledges, at least for another month. If Wang and the Islanders are not involved in either of these proposal stages, I agree it may be time to start the freakout. But for now, we must wait and see.

There is also the Brooklyn option, which while it seems less likely, it also may be the most realistic at this point. The reason for that is, of course, the fact that they are currently building a brand new building for the NBA's Nets. The building is fit for professional hockey, but can only sit 14,500 people. That should not be a worry, as standing room only tickets could easily bring that number up to an acceptable NHL standard - at least that of the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. The question there is if Charles Wang would like to be a second tenant. And of course, a decision on Brooklyn would not have to come for a few years.

Suffolk County remains an option as well, but really only at the Pilgrim State location. As the team moves east, interest draws less - that includes time to get to the arena and corporate sponsorship. Still, it is a local option and cannot be discounted at this point.

Wang cannot put all of his eggs in one basket anymore. He needs to negotiate with anyone who will listen. Thinks will undoubtedly look bleak at times, but that is par for the course in dealing with a situation like this. We should find out soon what the next step in this saga is - but make no mistake, with four years left we are far from done. For the sake of argument, after hearing today's news from Nassau County, Queens, and Brooklyn, I sincerely doubt the Islanders will end up moving out of state. However, you can never say never. Any local option is one worth exploring.

The fans' passion never has waned and it won't. Islander fans will still fight to keep the team here no matter what. That is something you can take to the bank.

AT: Misinformation won. Apparently, the Democrats went forth with a stealth campaign and sent out 100K robocalls to senior citizens trying to push forward the $58 tax increase number. It is time to put an end to these shenanigans. The county ither have give Charles a concrete, solidified option for a reworked Lighthouse with a guarantee, or Charles should move the team to Queens. It is that simple. We shall see on Wednesday. I would imagine Charles is planning on saying something at least moderately concrete to stop Islander fans from jumping off a cliff.

While there is this new opportunity with the RFP process, Wang has tried this before. At this point, after 5+ years of trying to get first a privately funded and then a publicly funded arena, it's time for Wang to put up the big guns. Start making threats and realistic PR moves to show he is dedicated to Queens. In the Siena poll released before the vote, most said they wanted the Islanders, just not the bill of a publicly financed arena. Well, it's time to put up or shut up, Nassau County.

As for Queens, I do at this point believe it is the most likely option. You have the all-but-official partnership between the Isles and Mets that has been active for years, you have a very reliable location that is still very reachable by car, LIRR and NYC transportation, a location that is still geographically part of Long Island, and an area that seems to really want the Islanders. Having a team play all year would be huge for income, especially with a team on the rise like the Isles.

Brooklyn is certainly an option, but I see it as more of a last ditch option. The Islanders have almost always been the only tenant in their arena, and I would imagine Wang wants things to stay the same. Yet, he still loves Long Island as much as anyone, and I'm sure he would consider it if absolutely necessary.

On behalf of Carey and myself, we would also like to extend a HUGE thank you for those who really helped us with the social media push on the "VOTE YES" page on Facebook. It is because of you that this vote wasn't a complete and total disaster and it is because of you that you affirmed my faith that there are people who realized that this wasn't just about hockey, it was about Long Island. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Not 'till the fat lady sings.

Arena: Why I Support The Yes Vote

AT: As anyone who reads the blog knows, I am not a Nassau County resident. I have lived in Suffolk County for my entire life except for my year at college last year where I lived in the Financial District in Manhattan. Next, I'm going to be living in Albany for school. I went from Coram, to Mt. Sinai, to Stony Brook and now I live in Port Jefferson. Long Island, and more specifically Suffolk, has been all I've known my entire life. While I certainly had a very difficult childhood, it would have been much more difficult if I had not been living in such a stable location. With low crime and getting an education at a fantastic high school (in terms of education at least), Long Island was probably the best place to grow up. My mom grew up in Dix Hills, my father in Port Jefferson. My heritage is here.

The Islanders hold a special place in my heart. As a child, I never really had too many passions. Hockey was the first one to really flare up. After my dad bought Islanders season tickets in the summer of 2001, I went to about 30 home games in the 2001-2002 season including all 3 home playoff games against Toronto. Chris Osgood quickly became my favorite player and I had finally found a major interest that has stayed with me and of which my passion has only grown. I was as big of a fan as you could get, and the Islanders remained a huge part of my life and being able to take in games with my father helped me deal with the difficulty of my childhood. The 45 minute drives to the Coliseum were relaxing and helped me bond with my father, talking about life, friends, girls, and everything of the like. Since my father worked, going to the games was really the only time I had to talk to him about things in my life that made me both happy and sad.

As I stated, I did not have many passions in my childhood. I had on and off depression until 2010, I was almost always overweight until I finally got the willpower to lose 60 pounds and have kept it off since, and I was generally an outcast in school. Watching the games in person and going to such an invigorating environment helped keep me stable and develop a major interest to keep me from going off the deep end. While I have turned my life around completely, I can not help but think at least part of that is due to the fact that I was able to take such a huge interest in something for the first time in my life. After all, what drives a human above all else more than his/her passion? Having a team that helped me identify with where I was growing up, one that allowed me to bond with my father and one that drove me into my first major interest was a major spark plug in my life.

While obviously not everyone will fall into the same situation I did, there are bound to be children out there who will. Children who are growing up in a time period that is, to say the least, unstable. Politically, militarily and economically. We can not and should not deprive them of the same experiences we were all lucky enough to enjoy and take in. These are memories that will last me a lifetime. Memories I hope and pray I will be able to share with my children if I choose to come back to Long Island after I'm done with my military career. 

We live in a black hole of suburbia. The Nassau Coliseum, even in its deteriorating state, always remained that one "big" location on Long Island. In my area specifically, the most notable location is the Smithhaven Mall. That says a lot about Long Island. We must not allow New York City to continue to swallow our tax dollars. Long Island is very unique, and it needs its own unique locations. Jones Beach and Montauk alone will not and should not cut it. We are more than that, and we need to show that to the legislature and NIFA. We need to grow, and the only way to grow is to invest. Just like the saying goes, you need to spend money to make money. Just like how Charles Wang was going to spend on the Lighthouse in order to make a profit. Just like how banks give out loans with interest to customers who want to start up a business.

If the Coliseum is gone, so many memories, so many good things... will be terminated. Gone. Revenue from the Coliseum will vanish, people will continue to leave the Island, the only professional sports team on Long Island that has brought joy, sadness and hope to tens of thousands of people over the years will be relocated. This is not just about the Islanders, and it really never has been. Obviously, we all want the team here for good, but the loss of the Coliseum is a loss of part of the heart and soul of Long Island.

That is why I am supporting the yes vote. I believe in investing in worthy projects, and I believe in this Island that turned me into the man I am today. The Lighthouse project would have been better, yes. We all agree. However, this is the last option for Long Island to keep an arena. You might not agree with the entire premise of it, but almost everyone agrees keeping an arena is quintessential to keeping Long Island great and from keeping Long Island from falling off the edge economically. It's time to suck up some pride and do what's best for the community. With that, I plead all Nassau residents - invest in your community. Allow my children, your children and the children of others to share the memories that I and others were able to enjoy. Vote "YES" on August 1st, 2011.

- Alex Tessler

Arena: Charles Wang and Jay Jacobs on with Mike Francesa

Today, Charles Wang and Jay Jacobs, the chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, were on with Mike Francesa on the YES Network and WFAN to discuss the arena. Jacobs ended up embarrassing himself and the rest of the Nassau Country Democrats by showing up uneducated, misinformed and attempting to play politics like a child's game.

What a killer for the opposition to the referendum. For one, Francesa is usually against taxpayer funded arenas, and supports the new Coliseum for the better of the county. He stressed the fact that if the Coliseum were to be demolished, all of the revenue would disappear. And that is based off revenue coming in off of a subpar arena where the hockey team struggles to bring fans to the games. With a new arena and a hockey team with an incredibly bright future about to begin, that revenue would only increase, and Francesa honed in on that. Everyone would have preferred to have this as a private project such as the Lighthouse Project, but once again political games shut that down.

Jacobs claims he wants a new arena and to keep the Islanders on Long Island, but at this point, this is the last chance for the Islanders in Nassau County. Again, we all wanted this to be privately funded, but it's not happening. Sometimes you have to settle, but this has become a game of "I want credit" between the two parties, which is a sham. Jacobs, in this interview, was clearly shown to be heavily involved with this game. It's not about Long Island anymore for these people, which makes it all the more important to go out and vote.

One thing Jacobs also suggested was using PSLs, or personal seat licenses, to fund the arena. That is a ridiculous notion that wouldn't work even in a better economy and a county with lower taxes. PSLs for teams are already unpopular, suggesting that Wang could use them to build a new arena is ridiculous. Say the Islanders had 10K season ticket holders on the first day of the new arena. Divide the costs of the arena by the PSLs and you end up with a ridiculously high cost. It won't happen, nor should it.

Jacobs and the Democrats still believe there is no way the Islanders leave Nassau County, and I can only warn them now that if this vote ends up in a no or is rejected by NIFA even with a yes vote, they're in for a harsh wake up call, and very soon. This was a major moment for the vote, as Francesa reaches a very broad audience and absolutely destroyed Jacobs in every aspect possible.

On behalf of Carey and myself, we urge you to contact the Nassau County Democratic Committee at 516-294-3366 and express your frustration. The vote is in less than a week. We need this now more than ever. Put in a call and ask why Nassau politicians continue to choose their egos over the future of the Island.

-AT

Arena: The Curious Timing Of Wednesday's Rally

Last week, the Islanders announced they are having a rally on Wednesday, July 27, at 4 PM at the Nassau Coliseum. Among the speakers will be Ed Mangano and Charles Wang. Islanders of the present and past will be in attendance. And Long Island's own Blue Oyster Cult will be performing live. 

CH: I think it is great the Islanders are having a special event just days before the special election. It's exactly what they should be doing. What I don't understand at all is why they are having this rally on a weekday at 4:00 in the afternoon. The majority of the people that would come out for a Blue Oyster Cult concert are working. The majority of Islander fans are working. Yes, I'm sure there will be a ton of union workers there, without question. However, I went to the first rally and the meeting at the legislative offices. Unfortunately, there were not enough people there to make an impact that will be absolutely necessary at the Coliseum on Wednesday.

I have no idea what the turnout will be on Wednesday. I hope it's as big as what we saw before the public hearing for the Lighthouse in 2009. It's going to have to be. That's why this time is so curious. The Islanders run the Nassau Coliseum, so if there is a free date between Friday-Sunday, they should have used that and get the fanbase and residents riled up. Instead, we are getting a late afternoon showing in the middle of the week.

If you are going to be around on Wednesday, please try and make it. It's important to show this proposal has support. But make no mistake, the age group that needs to be targeted: the 25-55 year olds, are mostly going to be at work. And that is going to hold this thing down.

AT: To be quite honest, I'm floored that the only headliner they could get was BOC. As much as I love them and enjoy their music vastly, there are so many local celebrities who I know for a fact would come out and lend their support if asked. Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin James, Kevin Connolly, Billy Joel, Christie Brinkley (best not keep those two close together!), even James Dolan and a few former Rangers who have already voiced their support for the referendum such as Brian Leetch and Adam Graves. That, as well as the odd timing of the event, certainly does lead to some suspicion. I don't believe the Islanders believe this is a good idea, so you have to think there's some other motivation behind the timing. Just some very curious things by the Islanders right now. 

Arena: Why Tonight Was a Wakeup Call

Tonight was the first of the polls that Chris Botta was referring to in one of his recent tweets: that the outcome may be a "NO." Newsday came out tonight with an article saying that 75% of the 620 residents who were polled wanted to keep the Islanders, but not on their tab.

According to Botta, the Association of Better Long Island (I still crack up at their name) is starting a week-long advertising campaign to promote the "NO" vote.

So, it's now eight days before the vote. All hands are on deck here, and if nothing else, this should serve as a wake-up call. Forget the Alexei Yashin rumors. Forget Charles Wang and his curious decision making. Forget the fact that Garth Snow still has not traded for a top-4 defenseman. At this point, it absolutely does not matter. I respect and understand the viewpoint that hockey operations are tied in with public relations, but they cannot coincide in this situation.

If you hate everything the Islanders are doing right now, be it their inability to reach the cap floor on July 24, their four straight bottom-5 finishes, or their extremely loyalty to players who may not deserve it, it does not matter. If you love everything the Islanders are doing right now, be it accumulating high-end talent for the future, smart asset management and drafting, and the rebuilding process as a whole, it also does not matter.

We need to come together as Islander fans and put this vote through. Yes, I realize Newsday's poll had over 325 voters who are over 55. In some ways, it was flawed. But again, not the point. The point is the referendum in that poll was shot down, and while it does not matter, it should serve as a motivational symbol to not take this for granted. There are no guarantees in life, and this is a perfect example of that. I urge anyone who lives in Nassau County to vote YES, no matter if you are the Islanders' biggest criticizer or their biggest superfan. If you live in a New York City borough, Suffolk County, New Jersey, Connecticut, Switzerland or wherever else - if you know anyone in Nassau County, get them to vote YES.

This vote is in our hands, and it's in our hands to even get the politicians to look at the proposal. We wanted to be heard, so now we have our shot. We have to make it count.

-CH

Arena: NIFA, Extortion, Economic Loss - What Is Going On?

CH: It's been a while since we have posted on the arena subject, mostly due to busy work schedules, but much has happened since the last post, which was five days ago. Since then, we've had a front page on Newsday regarding NIFA's thoughts on the project, we've had extortion accusations from the office of County Executive Ed Mangano, and we finally received a valuation of the losses Nassau County will suffer if the Islanders leave town, even if it's just right over to Queens or Suffolk County.

To start with NIFA, we'll have to backtrack a little bit. NIFA met the other day to discuss the budget that Ed Mangano submitted, which of course was shot down. Without making an official statement on the Coliseum project, they pretty much all but criticized the project, even asking if Nassau fans wanted to voluntarily raise their property taxes. Ouch. What was really the most interesting part of all, as noted on Islanders Point Blank, was that the Islanders are not the main tenant. From what I understand, instead, it's Arenaco SPE (special entity), which essentially leaves the onus on Nassau County if the tenant defaults. The Islanders are not tied to the lease - Arenaco is - which means theoretically the Islanders could leave for Tokyo in 20 years if they so desired. Coupled with the fact that Nassau County is on the hook if the Islanders were to go bankrupt, things do not look as promising given NIFA's concerns.

That said, it places so much more importance on the vote itself. It is clear there need to be an overwhelming majority in favor of the referendum for the proper channels to put it through. A 51-49 split is not going to get it done. If you are in Nassau County and can vote, do NOT take this for granted. Get to the polls and get your vote in. Even if it "doesn't matter" for the majority vote, we need more than that. This needs to be a landslide and only the help of every Nassau County resident can the Islanders get there.

AT: I don't think anyone expected a positive response from NIFA, but even without an official comment, it was overwhelmingly negative. Definitely not what we needed right now and as Carey said, all the more reason that any lethargy from people should be quelled immediately. We need this to be an overwhelming victory.

CH: Last night, we read that the office of Ed Mangano has accused ABLI leader Desmond Ryan of extortion, saying that Ryan would have offered his support of the Coliseum plan if he got the rights to develop the Coliseum. Naturally, Ryan denied these claims. Well, this is interesting. It's certainly about time that Ed Mangano went on the offensive here. Ryan has been shooting his mouth off with misinformation about the plan to anyone that will listen. Newsday hasn't even mentioned his conflict of interest until about a week ago. Things certainly escalated when Ryan accused the Executive Office of campaigning their own plan. This situation with the ABLI is a complete mess, and it's both the faults of Mangano and Ryan. Mangano needed to shut this guy up immediately, and Ryan needs to live up to his organizations name and stop spewing lies about the plan just because he was not chosen to develop the land. It's immature, it's unnecessary, and it hurts Long Island and the people that live there.

AT: A real estate mogul looking to cash in for his own profit? Unheard of! I'm glad Mangano is finally going on the offensive about this. With 2 weeks till the vote, we can't let someone like Ryan sway any undecided minds. If he is the leader of the opposition (even if not in an official post), he needs to be silenced as the only thing we've heard from him has been nothing but lies.

CH: Finally, a report in Newsday finally came out about the economic effects of the Islanders leaving Nassau County. It's exactly what we have been waiting for, and the details are out in plain view. The County cannot afford to lose close to $250 million in tax revenue each year. Plain and simple, every dollar counts here, and the Islanders are a big contributor to helping the dollars flow in. With no tenant in the Nassau Coliseum, it's doors will close very soon after the Isles leave. It's clear that losing the Islanders has more implications than just a civic pride issue.

Overall, this situation has become messy. And I expect it to get messier as we get closer and closer to the vote. All I know is the Isles PR machine better be out in full force, because this is too important to let it slip away.

AT: It's about time. The stats are on the table. It should be a very simple vote: have your taxes go up substantially and permanently, or have them go up for a very short time and then have the money given back and more over the years. It's your choice, Nassau. Make the smart one. Time to hammer home that point in commercials, radio ads, and lots and lots of fliers.

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.

News: Ducks Win Ballpark Bid

According to Newsday, the owner of the Long Island Ducks won the fight to bring another minor league Atlantic League team to Long Island, beating out a joint bid by the New York Mets and Syosset developer David Blumenfeld. The ballpark would cost around $50m and is attached to the August 1st referendum to develop a new Nassau Coliseum. The field would open in the Spring of 2013.

AT: I don't think anyone is surprised by this. From a previous blog post, we noted that it seemed as if another Atlantic League team would bring in more revenue than a minor league Mets team. While having a double or triple A team next to the new Nassau Coliseum (should it happen) would be nice, Mangano and Nassau County should be showing that they're looking out for money to bring in to the county first and foremost. This adds one more thing to the HUB to make it a prime destination and further the development of the surrounding areas along.

CH: This is clearly all about the money, which it should be. Have to remember Nassau County needs the money more than the prestige, so that's where we stand. I do think the economic benefits long-term were best suited with the Mets, but Nassau residents are short-sighted and will only look in the short-term. From that sense, since the stadium will only cost an estimated $25 million and the County will bring in more revenue with the Atlantic League, this made more sense.

Arena: Get Out The (YES) Vote

CH: This really should fall under the "opinion" heading, because while no new substantial arena news came out today (other than Chris Botta's announcing the Isles are asking Nassau County for $4 million in repairs of the Coliseum found here), there was a lot of debate and anger over Twitter and other social media forums today (by the way, have you seen the new marquee at the Coliseum?) because of some opposition organization.

So here's a little bit of a story.This morning, detractors of the referendum plan woke up bright and early with the rest of the commuters and handed out anti-referendum flyers. I was at one of these stations this morning, Hicksville, on my commute to work but did not see them up close. I did however see a few people holding these flyers, but I couldn't make much out. What I did see was a New York Islanders logo with the Islanders name cut out, so it was really just a picture of Long Island. Instead of "NY" up to, it read "NO." Then, the flyer contained the (disgraceful) Daily News editorial and a bunch of drivel about taxes.

Well, I saw these pamphlets and I saw people reading them and I got very upset. Thankfully, there were a lot in the trash, but their efforts were surely noted. I got upset that these intolerant residents are so against the semblance of change. I got upset that these residents spent more money preparing and printing and handing out these flyers than it would cost them to pay the first year before the Coliseum opened. And I got upset that these people are not for a better Long Island, and that they are okay - or even happy - with accepting the status quo. As an Islander fan Nassau County resident, this is beyond disappointing.

Alex and I have predicted negative articles and negative comments, but from my end, I did not expect this type of organization. Apparently, Hicksville was not the only station they were at (not sure of any of the others), but that's not the point. We've been hearing about the major PR push from Nassau County and the Islanders. Through the Vote YES campaign, we know that one is coming from the Islanders first-hand. The time is now for all hands to be on deck - and it will be. I have no doubt that the Islanders are going to pull out all the stops they can - the only question is, is it too late? I don't think it is. This vote is hinged upon the ability of community influencers and residents to get their votes out. There's plenty of Islander fans. There's plenty of Ranger fans. There's plenty of union workers and plenty of people who support growth.

What's the other option? Just sit back and watch the Coliseum die? That's not good enough for me. We can talk about the Lighthouse project for hours on end, but that's backwards thinking. That's not what I believe in. So we have 23 days - let's get the vote (YES) out. This is a total group effort from Floral Park to Oyster Bay to Bethpage to the heart of Uniondale. And most importantly, let's make sure we have a beautiful new arena in 2015. Nassau County, despite the ridiculous and corrupt politics, deserves one.

AT: It's time. Carey's story just shows us why. The opposition is formulating and needs to be quelled. Leave any lethargic tendencies at home, people. This is your team. This is my team. This is our team. Naturally, any referendum that goes up like this will receive some natural opposition. That's completely normal. However, when the opposition comes up with no solid facts and nothing other than an editorial that was rife with misinformation to begin with... are we really going to let these people ruin 40 years of Islanders history and a major Long Island destination? That's a rhetorical question, because obviously the answer is: OF COURSE NOT.

If you love this team as much as I do, if you want to continue to raise your family on Long Island, if you want to raise a future family on Long Island and if you want this great location which holds a special place in all of our hearts to continue to prosper, then drop what you're doing and start rocking the vote. Anyone who sits back and waits for others to do the job for them is just as bad as those who vote no. We need this. Let's go.

Arena: Long Island Association Backs Project; ABLI Still Opposes

Newsday reported today that the two biggest Long Island business groups were split on the issue of the Nassau Coliseum. The Long Island Association, headed by Kevin Law, is made up of mostly business owners. The Association for Better Long Island, which is led by Desmond Ryan, is made up of real estate owners. The LIA backs the project while the ABLI is steadfastly against it.

CH: This shouldn't be surprising at all. The business owners, who this directly benefits, are for the project and the guys that didn't get a piece of the pie, the real estate group, are against it. Both sides are looking out for their own self-interest here, but it seems more selfish from the ABLI side. Why else would real estate owners not like this project?  If one of the ABLI members were building it, I guarantee we would not hear a thing. The same goes for the LIA. This project clearly helps business owners, so they support it - in that sense, it's very similar to the Lighthouse project. This whole article is just a reminder that issues like this are all about self-interest. Which is exactly why the majority of the readers are making it a point to go out and vote YES on this referendum.

AT: This all boils down to the usual political turmoil everything turns into. I hate to get into a political discussion here, but this is about politics. Look at the fighting over the debt in Washington right now. The problem has always been the same - people want cuts, until it hurts what they care about. The same applies here. If it doesn't benefit them, they don't want it. If it does, they support it. It's always been the same game in any political arena. I'm just tired of it when it comes to a project like this that's so desperately needed to keep Long Island such a big destination for families and tourists alike.

Arena: NY Daily News Editorial

An editorial in the New York Daily News today, which you can find here, came out with more misinformation about Ed Mangano and Charles Wang's plan to re-develop the Nassau Coliseum and it's surrounding areas. 

CH: To start, the author (who is anonymous) failed to realize that both the Mets and Yankees used public funds to construct Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, respectively. Secondly, the Islanders have already offered to cover all the overages regarding the arena AND have offered to be 70% of the debt service without a cent that enters the new Nassau Coliseum. But everyone reading this blog knows that.

Here we are in another situation where misinformation is being spread. Here we are in another situation where excuses are being made as to why we should not act. And here we are in another situation where an author recommends the growth of Nassau County should continue to stagnate. That is why I brought this editorial onto the blog. Not because the facts are right (they aren't), but to show the ignorance of authors that think they have the answers to anything (doing nothing), when the real answer is standing in front of their face.

The bigger question is why the Daily News, a newspaper with integrity, decided to post on this, but that's for another day. The fact is these are the articles we will see for the next month, and it's up to us to start discrediting the wrong information and start informing those with the facts. Because the facts are what is going to get this arena built, and the facts are what will keep our New York Islanders in Nassau County.

AT: The comments section seems to be rife with people on our side, so I suppose that's one positive to take out of it. But the fact that the NYDN, a paper which is supposedly credible, would put up an article like this is ridiculous. They should be ashamed of themselves. This is precisely why I avoid the NYDN and the Post like the plague.  People will NEVER be happy with this. It wasn't good enough that Wang wanted to pay for his first project entirely on his own. Now that he can't do that, he's doing it in a way that will pay back taxpayers and ensure the consistency of NVMC revenue for 30 more years after 2015. It's no surprise that this "editorial", if you can even call it that, was made anonymously. Any journalist who did this little fact checking should be banned from any credible paper. It's time to hit up the PR machine, Mr. Wang. Get commercials out, send out fliers, stage rallies. Do whatever you need to do. We all hate when something so important to us gets mucked up in the political arena, but that is the reality of the situation. Don't let others do this for you. The time of lethargy is over. Wang, the Islanders, and all of us reading this are going to be responsible for getting this done.

Arena: Nassau Legislature To Vote On Election Funding

According to Newsday, the Nassau County Legislature will be voting on July 11 to see if Nassau County will be authorized to transfer $2.2 million to provide the necessary overhead and logistics for the August 1 referendum vote. In the articles, details of the logistics of the election are discussed. 

CH: This minor "obstacle" will pass easily if all this vote needs is a simple majority. In fact, in the article it states that the legislature passed the budget for it already and laid off 130 workers, which to be honest, could and should have made people angry. That said, I have no worries about this passing and as long as the full details (according to the Legislature) are shared, this vote is happening on August 1. Just remember to continue to e-mail your legislators and NIFA to share your concerns about how necessary this arena is for Long Island.

AT: And don't forget that once again, if the vote passes, Charles Wang covers the costs. Funny, I didn't see Newsday mentioning that.

Arena: Wang and Mangano Reveal Nassau Coliseum Plan

Today at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Islanders owner Charles Wang and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano released the financial data of the plan that would build the New York Islanders and Nassau County a new arena. The press release can be found on the Islanders official website, and more details can be found on Newsday.

CH: So much to discuss here. First off, they FINALLY released this information, and it was worth the wait. This plan is much better than I expected - to outline, the Islanders will pay Nassau County a guaranteed $14 million per year ($420 million over the life of the contract), along with 11.5% of all revenues from all events at the new arena. That includes everything from pretzels, tickets, beer etc. It's now projected, if the new arena does not make a dime, that each household will see an increase in property tax of less than $20 per year. However, the projections state the new arena will make over $1.2 billion in revenues, which should pay off the entire thing. This is an absolute sweetheart deal for Nassau County. There's just no other way to put it. I'm certainly a little more optimistic than I was going into today, but we'll see what previous detractors have to say about it tomorrow.

AT: Awesome job by Wang and Mangano today. I was surprised honestly, but my faith has been restored in Mr. Wang and Mr. Mangano. By allowing the County 11.5% of the revenues which will cover the tax expenses and more, this plan really should not be hated by anybody. This is the perfect situation for everyone. Well done, Wang-ano.

CH: As we knew before, the Islanders will be staying on Long Island until at least 2045 under this agreement. There will be 3,000 permanent jobs and over 1,000 temporary construction jobs created. It was also confirmed today that the demolition of the current Nassau Coliseum will be included in the $350 million bond. Charles Wang has also agreed to pay any overruns over the $350 million number, so there will be no further burden on the taxpayer whatsoever. Those are two huge answers to very legitimate questions proposed by some members of the Legislature.

AT: And if the Isles leave, it's the taxpayers who will be paying for the demolition. Just something to keep in mind. Good for Wang to ensure the voters that anything over what is promised in the $350m will be paid for by him. I really hope we see a true, state of the art arena.

CH: The one thing we didn't hear about is a comparison report on what would happen if the Islanders left, which is something I would still like to say. However, with the increase in property tax essentially negligible, it may not even matter that much. Still, it's something that would be nice to see. That said, the appeasement of ABLI and the Town of Hempstead yesterday means there are already powerful people on board. The only other negative I could see from this plan is that the payback period won't start until three years after borrowing. That means that there will be a little bit more of a tax increase in that time, but in the long-term it becomes moot. Like Wang said at the end of the press conference, this is about future generations of Long Island - not just today's.

AT: Absolutely. Long term for the Island is the most important thing here. Yes, taxes will go up a very minor amount in the short term, but all of that will come back - and more! 11.5% over 30 years, especially with a team that has a returning fanbase and a rising team, is nothing but good news for Nassau residents.

CH: From here, the campaign officially begins from the Islanders/Nassau County standpoint. The Islanders will have voter registration at their draft party on Friday. Nassau County is going to hold public meetings on the benefits of this plan as soon as next week and through the month of July. The Islanders are also going to be creating a website with all pertinent information about the Coliseum plan. These are all great marketing techniques. But now it's up to us. This vote is of extreme importance and we must show NIFA and the Legislature that this plan should go through. And that will happen with a landslide victory on August 1.

AT: The voter registration at the draft party is huge. Last thing we need is younger fans going to the booth to find out they haven't registered. Get everyone who can vote and is willing to vote yes out there, spread fliers, post signs, scream it on the highway at passing cars. Okay, maybe not that last part. But I really hope the Islanders have a damn good PR firm ready for this. They'll need it to ensure their future. 

Arena: Wang and Mangano to Announce Arena Plans Tomorrow

According to Newsday, Charles Wang and Ed Mangano are set to announce the lease agreement and other financial estimations regarding the redevelopment of the Nassau Coliseum tomorrow. The following is the press release, as posted by B.D. Gallof on Twitter:

"Uniondale, NY, June 21, 2011 Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano will be joined by New York Islanders Owner Charles Wang at a press conference, Wednesday, June 22nd at 11:00 a.m. Together, Mangano and Wang will announce that they have reached an agreement that takes an important step forward, creating a new world-class sports-entertainment destination in Nassau County, including the retention of the NY Islanders - Long Islands only major professional sports team. An independent economist and lease negotiators will be on hand to address details of an economic analysis and lease related to the new arena."

CH: Well, here we are...finally. I have to admit I'm pretty nervous about this, mostly because I'm worried about how Wang and Mangano are going to conduct themselves when the tough questions are asked. But we have to stay positive here and hope that the numbers will add up. If they do, most of the detractors should be quiet. Yes, we may have to deal with more political posturing, but if the plan works it won't matter. This is a huge day for the New York Islanders. Without more details, it's hard to make any comments on this other than the fact that this is a huge day. It took them long enough but it's here, so just like with the Lighthouse, we have to forget the past and only focus on what is ahead of us.

AT: I remain an optimist in hoping that Wang and Mangano have used the past couple of weeks to prepare for this and to ready themselves for the difficult questions on rising taxes, and to hammer home the cost difference of a new arena versus the Islanders leaving Long Island. This is their time... don't screw it up.

In other news today, Newsday is reporting the Town of Hempstead approved a more flexible zoning plan which will allow for "residential, retail, entertainment, parking, office, hotel, restaurant or a new or refurbished Coliseum." While it's said this rezoning has nothing to do with the Wang/Mangano plan to build a new Coliseum, it does give more freedom for development once the arena is built.

CH: This is all fine and good. Like we touched on yesterday, in the short-term, what we will see is just the Coliseum and the parking lot. But this rezoning allows for long-term development on the site, so we won't have to deal with the problems the Lighthouse problems dealt with. While this doesn't affect the area in the short-term, the long-term outlook of the site is brighter.

AT: Definitely. The arena right now is pretty bland with not much surrounding it. Let's get the arena done first and then worry about making it all pretty afterwards.
 

Arena: Wang Will Have Control of Land

Zimbio

According to Randi Marshall at Newsday, Charles Wang will have control of the 77-acre land that surrounds and includes the Nassau Coliseum. As per the referendum, the new arena and ballpark will be built first with a standard parking lot. From there, future mixed-use is still a possibility, subject to a new RFP process. In return for control, Wang will share revenue with the County, though it's unknown exactly how much at this time. 

CH: There's a bunch of different parts to this. First, I've read people are nervous that no development will ever come of this. I can't deny that possibility, but subjecting the land to a new RFP process appeases the Association for Better Long Island and Kate Murray and her Town of Hempstead cronies. It means the Coliseum and ballpark will be built first, and development can spur up afterwards, which would be fine. The Lighthouse (Lite) was never going to be built by 2015. We were told the referendum would include funding to build an arena and ballpark, and nothing else. That's exactly what we're getting. From there, it's up to Charles Wang, who we know wants to develop the area.

The surface parking makes sense because it will give Nassau County a bigger profit margin in the short-term. In the article, it says it will cost $25,000 per space with a parking garage - adding up to $175 million. In a time like this, that's not feasible or smart. In the long-term, it's obvious a garage must be built there. But only have more development gets built, otherwise you're wasting a ton of money. With the rumor the team is going to charge $20 for parking at hockey games down the road (they already have been for other events), the profit margin will be way higher.

There is no doubt that Mangano and Wang have not done the best job with this plan. We still have no idea what the numbers are going to say, and that will be the dealbreaker or the thing that puts this through. That needs to come out now, especially as we near the end of June. All we know is that Wang will control the land and there will be no original development with the Coliseum and ballpark. And that's okay, but that can't be the long-term plan. It's clear they want to get the arena done first for two reasons: 1) It's the most urgent. The Islanders lease is up in 4 years, and the team needs a building. So construction needs to start now. 2) It's also the most biggest and most important part of the plan. You always build the biggest thing first. And development will come from a new arena, but it won't come from a broken down Coliseum or an empty piece of land. They are right in how the plan needs to be done, but the devil will be in the details.

AT: To be honest, all that really matters to me right now is the arena. No, they haven't done a very good job with everything else and we don't even know what the new Coliseum will look like, but right now the new Coliseum is my (and everyone else's) main concern. Everything else can be worked out at a later date. A parking garage will absolutely be necessary especially as the Islanders rise up through the ranks, but right now we need to stay focused on what's most important. If the new arena isn't passed on August 1st, the Islanders are gone, so everything else kind of takes a back seat to the arena at this point. I'd love for Wang to develop the arena - I thought the concept designs for the Lighthouse at LI were beautiful and ambitious. It will happen in time. Let's get the arena done right now and focus on everything else after.

As a side note: Randi Marshall tweeted this morning there will be a vote on a less dense zone for the Coliseum. She called the process "straightforward" when I asked her if there was anything else. So this should pass fairly easily, I'm assuming. We'll update that later.

Arena: Mets and Ducks Submit Plans For Minor League Stadium

According to Newsday, the New York Mets and Long Island Ducks have submitted plans to be the primary tenant for the minor league baseball stadium proposed in the Nassau Coliseum site redevelopment. The Mets have offered a full-season minor league team, which means a Single-A, Double-A, or Triple-A team. However, the Ducks proposal is said to provide over $200,000 extra in revenue sharing per season. Nassau County will not release more details until the procurement process is completed, according to the newspaper.

CH: I don't think anyone expected the Mets (or Yankees) to be in on this, so the fact that they are is a very good thing. There's a few ways to look at it. First, the money aspect cannot be ignored and is the primary component, especially with NIFA watching over every move. If the Ducks' proposal to put a new team in Nassau County will generate more money for Nassau County, it's a huge advantage for them.

AT: Having an MLB team's affiliate right near the Islanders would be a great, great opportunity. The Isles and Mets are already pretty much conjoined as we've seen many Islander players (such a DiPietro) take batting practice with the Mets. If they can capitalize on this, with the amount of Isles-Mets fans, you'd see an even bigger influx of revenue in the area.

CH: That said, the Mets have an allure of being a Major League franchise. It's clear they want to move either their Triple-A team (Buffalo agreement expires in 2012) or their Double-A team closer to Citi Field. This could be a huge coup for Nassau County. The Mets have more fans on Long Island than the Ducks, which means over time having the team in Nassau County could provide more of an economic benefit to the county. When looking at the options, would residents care more about a Nassau/Suffolk Atlantic League rivalry or the opportunity to watch future Mets play in their backyard? New York has always been a professional town, so I do believe Nassau County is better off going with the Mets in a long-term perspective.

AT:  Absolutely. I enjoyed Ducks game when I went to them, but even being a Yankees fan I know that it'd be a huge opportunity to have an MLB affiliate right near the new Coliseum. This is a no-brainer IMO.