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Islanders to Play Brooklyn in October

Long Island's struggling NHL franchise will visit Barclays Center in October.

 

The New York Islanders can't escape their dilapidated Long Island home until 2015, but the National Hockey League team will play a preseason game at the Barclays Center this October.

The Isles said on Tuesday that they will play the first hockey game ever at the new building when they take on the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. 

On Long Island, the decision to play a game in Brooklyn will be taken by many residents as yet another threat by the team to move when its lease at the Nassau Coliseum expires in three years. The team has spent more than a decade fighting for a new arena, but proposal after proposal has failed to gain traction. Most recently, county voters last year overwhelmingly rejected using taxpayer dollars to pay for a new Coliseum.

Here, the Barclays Center is rising quickly, and the Nets will be christened the Brooklyn Nets in time for next season.  Borough President Marty Markowitz is also advocating for an NHL co-tenant, and real estate developer Bruce Ratner and Nets executive Brett Yomark met last year to try and win over the Isles. 

Relocation rumors have surrounded the Isles for years, but a move to Brooklyn would keep the team in the metropolitan area. 

In a statement, Isles General Manager Garth Snow said "We’re extremely excited to play the first NHL game in the new, state-of-the-art Barclays Center. We already have some of the most passionate fans in the league supporting our young team, and we are looking forward to expanding our base into Brooklyn.”

  • Should the Islanders move to Brooklyn permanently?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes - Brooklyn makes much more sense.
        30 (50%)
    • No - I love my Isles in Nassau.
        27 (45%)
    • Other (Tell us in the comment section below).
        2 (3%)
    Total votes: 59
  • This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
Related Topics: Atlantic Yards, Barclays Center, Hockey, NHL, Nassau Coliseum, New Jersey Nets, and New York Islanders

Jonathan Schwieger Jr.

2:38 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The loss of the Islanders would make the coliseum even more useless and would just lead to a dilapidated concrete field.

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John Scandalios

3:22 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

As a declared candidate for New York City Council for District 20 plus as a big fan of the Islanders as a boy in the 70's who saw all those Stanley Cups won, I would strongly support and encourage the Islanders moving to Brooklyn. John Scandalios

Reply

Mac

10:58 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

They may not move to Brooklyn but use this as astepping stone for a new arena here or a move to Quebec. The teams in canada actually have more support and make more money than most of the US teams. The Barclays center was not constructed for hockey and would be the smallest arena in the NHL. Recently, Gary Bettman said he didnt think the current Arena in Brooklyn would be suitable for an NHL team. The NHL must also approve the move. It would be a shame to lose the Islanders as the NVMC would surely be living on borrowed time with no primary tenant. There is only one facuilty in the US of the same size that has no primary tenant and it is scheduled events like crazy. It hosts college BB, college hockey, pro lacrosse and an indoor soccer team and it is having financial problems right now. Also it shoudl be pointed out the stadium is NEW.

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donna

11:17 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012

so how do you get tickets to this event thanks ?? new is good wont have to bring blanket with me as i do the other place no matters what event we went to it was always freezing !! seriously

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David Reich-Hale

11:42 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012

From the Nets website:

The on-sale date for tickets to the Islanders-Devils game will be announced soon. Fans are encouraged to visit www.barclayscenter.com.

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