Elected officials who've had a hand in prior planning attempts for a new arena at the Nassau Coliseum expressed disappointment over the NHL team's announcement to leave the county for Brooklyn's Barclays Center in 2015.
"I am disappointed to learn of the Islanders’ plan to relocate to Brooklyn," Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said. "They’ve been a valued part of this region’s identity, and we wish the team great success in the future. We hope Long Islanders will continue to cheer for the team.
"Hempstead Town, along with Nassau County, has long been focused on progressive development at Nassau’s HUB, including a new home for the Islanders. We worked hard to make that goal a reality. Though we regret the Islanders’ decision to relocate, we remain committed to development at the Nassau Veterans Coliseum site that makes sense for our region and our residents."
Nassau County Democratic Leader Kevan Abrahams was also saddened by the relocation news.
"This is a sad day for Nassau County and unfortunately another crippling hit to our local economy," he said. "To lose the Islanders, Nassau's only professional sports franchise, is an epic failure of leadership at all levels. We must immediately start working on new ideas for the Hub so that the Coliseum does not sit as a crumbling eyesore for generations."
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano called the Hub project the "most promising job creating opportunities in the nation," and has even solicitied private proposals for the Coliseum site after the referendum was voted down by residents.
"It is my intention to ensure that the taxpayers of Nassau County benefit from the economic redevelopment of 77 acres of land that sit within the most dynamic county in the nation," he added.
Mangano will also announce the selection of an economic development team who will serve as a catalyst in redeveloping the Hub into a "vibrant destination and job creation center."
"I believe the depth and experience of our team will allow us to reinvent this strategic acreage quickly," Mangano said, "allowing the economic benefits from Mitchel Field and the Hub to improve the quality of life of every Nassau County resident.”
Sorry to late.. You lose..
And Wang is laughing all the way to the bank. He's going to weasle out of his Coliseum lease somehow and move into Brooklyn ASAP. And it's b.s. that the team couldn't attract free agents because of Coliseum aesthetics. First of all..Wang had poor management advice to lean on. Secondly.. He's still paying off a perennially lame goalie that he stupidly signed for at least a dozen years. He must have asked Omar Minaya for advice. Thirdly..He fired every successful coach who then went on to do well elsewhere. Forthly..His draft picks made by his genius GM's mostly went down the toilet Fifthly...He had a lousy cable TV and radio contract And lastly...He desperately tried to compete with the Rangers and failed. His operation was low class/Mickey Mouse compared to theirs. Even if the Knicks and Rangers weren't winning, they always packed the house and made money. And the owners weren't cheap. They SPENT IT on getting the best players they could. While the Islanders always settled for the scraps. It wasn't that they had no money to compete. The Devils are constantly broke with poor attendance, but constantly competing for the Stanley Cup. How do you explain that except for Wang 's desire NOT to do well so he can skate out of Uniondale and into Downtown Brooklyn without any major objection. Just like a slumlord would do.
"And it's b.s. that the team couldn't attract free agents because of Coliseum aesthetics." That is true. A player knowing that the team being unsettled in Uniondale for the past several years, might not want to take a chance of uncertainty. Not all hockey players get paid multimillions.... And to relocate to where your home field is with uncertainly definitely plays a role... The place was a dump for years and no one took them seriously that they might leave..... We lose....
I hope Wang finds a way to screw the county and the nay-saying taxpayers when he finds a way to break his lease with little or no penalty... We get what we deserve, poop....
Wang's only mistake: Not waiting until Election Day 2012 to announce his move...
So stop blaming the Republicans and start voting Republican before this entire country gets flushed down the toilet into Obamanation.
Rebecca: We tried last year. I ran very hard. Everywhere I went, 5 of 10 people exploded at the mere mention of her name. Only two out of ten expressed any liking for her at all. But, in the end out of 500,000 registered voters, only 100,000 voted. Of that 100,000 Kate got over 66%. My advice for the people who want her gone: vote next year, don't just complain; also get your friends out to vote.
Wang reminds me of the late, "great" Roe Boe who sold his biggest asset, Dr. J. to the 76'ers then fled the Coluseum
It’s nice to see that you’re a good team player and you’re wrapped up in your ideology but you’re ignoring the simple fact that all roads end at Kate Murray’s office.
Mr. Wang is no better than Mr. Boe, and in some ways even worse. I havent read anything about Roe Boe's former close business executives going to jail for the crimes that his corp. was responsible for. And just like Roy Boe, Charles Wang abandoned his fans and the Coliseum for a better deal somewhere else when money got tight. But unlike Roy Boe, Wang's Islanders area huge flop...perennial losers. The Nets won a few championships under Boe's astute ownership. And Roy Boe brought in the young talent in the late 1970's that won 4 straight cups in the early 1980's. Yeah guys. Keep defending the man who nearly destroyed a once thriving NHL franchise. Kate Murray could not have done as worse job as its owner.
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Mangano announced plans to “reinvent” the Nassau Coliseum by bringing in Forest City Ratner Companies, the same developer responsible for Barclay’s Center. This is "to help transform the venue into becoming what the county described as ‘an attractive, state-of-the-art destination for sports & entertainment.’ " Really? Mangano is doing this NOW, after Wang’s hand was forced by the TOH & Nassau County & was left with no choice but to move? Why now? Why couldn’t this have been considered BEFORE Wang was left with no option but to move to Brooklyn? How is that going to be paid for? And how would the manner in which this is to be paid for now be any different vs. how such a course of action would have been funded with the Isles kept in place in Uniondale? I don’t get it. I would really like to see the media ensure making it a point to highlight this valid & legitimate aspect in order for this to be rightly addressed as it should be & not glossed over, minimized, trivialized & conveniently brushed under the rug. What a bunch of f&^%ing short-sighted baffoons trying to cover their a$$ in vain. Yet more of the same nonsense from the same inept, dysfunctional gov’t officials being paid by the taxpayer. Mind boggling & unbelievable. Pathetic. And unconscionable that they even have the temerity to act as though they are not complicit or culpable, as if they have done nothing wrong. A-WH()Le$
Good riddance, Charlie! Don't let the door hit you in the ass as you leave. I couldn't be happier that he's gone. It matters not where. Let Brooklyn and Bloomberg now deal with that sleazebag who ruined a once proud and successful franchise and ran it into the toilet. Is there anyone on here who has PROOF that he hasn't? Can you show me one thing positive that Wang has done for the team or for the fans or for the taxpayers? It's ALL to line his own pockets. But none of you seem to get it. He did to the Islanders what he did to Computer Associates and its officers. Go look it up. BTW..This is all a moot point anyway. The NHL is going out of business and there won't be any NY Rangers, NY Islanders or any other team to compete against each other. Watch for a NEW pro league to form to pick up the ashes of the defunct, locked out NHL. So we may wind up with a new team like in the old WHA. The new Long Island Ducklings may rise from the dead in a new pro league that plays in the newly refurbished NASSAU VETS MEM COLISEUM under the name of the Chase Centre or maybe the Edward Mangano Coliseum.