-Vintage Canuck- Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Quote The New York Islanders are apparently being evicted from their Brooklyn home. Barclays Center officials have decided that it's no longer in their best interest to house the NHL franchise, Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick reported Monday, citing people familiar with the facility's finances. It's believed they have decided that the arena can generate more money staging concerts and other events in addition to Brooklyn Nets basketball. Barclays Center pays the Islanders an average of $53.5 million annually for control of business operations, according to Soshnick. The Islanders are in their second season in the Brooklyn barn, and since their arrival, there have been complaints from players and fans about ice quality and obstructed views. The club has the NHL's third-worst average attendance behind the Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes, with 81.1 percent of their seats sold, according to ESPN. In their final season at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, the Islanders had almost 95 percent attendance. Soshnick notes that either side can cancel the current deal. If the Barclays Center chooses that route, the Islanders would need a new home after the 2018-19 season. The Islanders have not commented on the report, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said this about the Islanders' future at Barclays Center at NHL All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, according to ESPN's Craig Custance: Well, the owners are committed to the franchise. They're committed to New York and the great fan base that has followed the Islanders. There are some issues about playing in Barclays. It may be fundamental to the system, and that's not something that can be fixed in the short terms. I think as is prudent, Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky are reviewing the situation and looking very seriously at what their options are. http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1220729 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 teams in Jersey now? Maybe they can share 1 building and make a reality TV show about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 I bet hockey fans in Quebec City are intrigued by this news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Am.Ironman Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 minutes ago, goalie13 said: I bet hockey fans in Quebec City are intrigued by this news. Maybe if it were the Hurricanes... The Isles won't leave New York any time soon. Too big of a fan base there. They are a historic team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 3 minutes ago, goalie13 said: I bet hockey fans in Quebec City are intrigued by this news. My first thought. Two more seasons after this give Seattle time to build an arena as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Just now, I.Am.Ironman said: Maybe if it were the Hurricanes... The Isles won't leave New York any time soon. Too big of a fan base there. They are a historic team. Agreed. But I imagine that any time there sounds like there's any chance that a team might relocate, some fans in Quebec would start getting excited. It's kind of like how every time any player goes on waivers, someone on CDC starts a thread saying we should claim them. It doesn't mean it's going to happen, just that people get all excited about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Saskatoon Islanders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squamfan Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 minutes ago, S'all Good Man said: Saskatoon Islanders? saskatoon rednecks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 minutes ago, Squamfan said: saskatoon rednecks Thats Alberta. Saskatoon dill weeds maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantum Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Why can't the Islanders return to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum? What was the problem with that arena? I know it's old but still... probably a better option than the Barclay ever was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Industrious1 Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 The Islanders won't be relocating to another city, this is a former dynasty team. New York can definitely have 2 teams if they are supported correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBackup Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 33 minutes ago, S'all Good Man said: Saskatoon Islanders? Saskatchewan Drylanders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice orca Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 47 minutes ago, S'all Good Man said: Thats Alberta. Saskatoon dill weeds maybe. Saskatoon Seed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Will the Knicks/Rangers allow them to share MSG, until they build a new stadium or is MSG too busy? Maybe Seattle can get moving and start working on building a new arena, and have Carolina move West? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 5 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said: Will the Knicks/Rangers allow them to share MSG, until they build a new stadium or is MSG too busy? Maybe Seattle can get moving and start working on building a new arena, and have Carolina move West? I would think MSG is too busy. 2 permanent tenants plus trade shows, concerts. I can't think of any major arena that has 3 permanent tenants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Is this an example of a greater concern with the league's overall health as a business? There seems to be several US franchises struggling, and if not for Canadian franchises supporting those teams, the league might end up bankrupt. How long can the league sustain these salaries? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Building Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I don't think any of this comes as much of a surprise, that building is awful for hockey. Especially at full price, and especially at full price when the club owner says things like "fans in obstructed view seats can watch the game on their phones" or something to that effect. I'm sure ownership has been chewing on the possibility of this occurrence since the team moved in, and now their hand is being forced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Sparkle Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Welcome the Newfoundland Whalers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bur14Kes17 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I don't care where the Islanders end up so long as Tavares realizes the franchise is a joke and signs in Vancouver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Marchand Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 1 hour ago, nuckin_futz said: I would think MSG is too busy. 2 permanent tenants plus trade shows, concerts. I can't think of any major arena that has 3 permanent tenants. Staples Center hosts the Kings, Lakers, and Clippers. It's doable, but all that activity ruins the ice quality. The Islanders also probably won't go back to Nassau as it's being renovated to seat around 13000 people for hockey: http://nypost.com/2017/01/10/nassau-coliseum-seeks-to-recapture-its-former-glory-with-130m-renovation/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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