The New York Islanders franchise completed a monumental Tuesday. While the hockey team played an exhibition game in Kansas City, Islanders owner Charles Wang took part in a 10-hour zoning hearing for the Lighthouse Project, his proposed development of the Nassau Coliseum property.When it was all over, the Islanders were one day closer to welcoming invitations from municipalities outside Nassau County, and Kansas City had failed miserably in its attempt to make an impression.
The Islanders and Los Angeles Kings played an exhibition game Tuesday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. While Islanders players and coaches were wowed by the facility, the 50-percent-capacity crowd at the game did nothing to stamp the great Missouri city as a serious contender for an NHL franchise. The Islanders even scratched 2009 first overall pick John Tavares, saving him for the team's game against the Devils Wednesday on Long Island.
With the Kansas City event hitting with a thud, the No. 1 story was at Hofstra University from 9 in the morning until 9 at night. There, Wang and co-developer Scott Rechler absorbed a steady stream of questions and complaints from Town of Hempstead officials about the Lighthouse Development. On more than a few occasions, tensions ran high -- including several "Let me finish!" fights. Frustrated by what Wang perceived as inappropriate comments from a town councilman, Wang said, "Please stop badgering our consultant."
As arguments were raised by advocates and opponents, the tension never left the room. When the hearing ended at 9 PM, Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray asked for those in favor of the Lighthouse Project to stand up. Approximately 95 percent of the auditorium did.
Wang told FanHouse Tuesday night that he has been committed to keeping the Islanders in Nassau County since he bought the franchise in 2000 and remains so, even after losing more than $20 million a year with an outdated facility and crippling lease. "Our group has been honest, we've worked hard, we've met our deadlines, we've invested a lot of money," said Wang. "We want this thing to go through."
However, the Islanders owner's deadline for "certainty" from the Town of Hempstead remains Oct. 3, the night of his team's season opener at home against Pittsburgh. With less than two weeks to go -- and after all the questions and animosity brought by the town board at Tuesday's marathon hearing -- it's impossible to envision Wang getting his answers. Lighthouse leaders point to approvals they have received from the Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works and their completion of an Environmental Impact Statement. Hempstead board members are not satisfied. Councilman Anthony Santino said the process was "like trying to nail Jell-o to a wall."
Lighthouse Development Corp. president Michael Picker told FanHouse Tuesday night that he's "proud" of his group's efforts to listen to the neighboring community and allow residents to shape the project. "There were some tense moments today," said Picker, "but that's to be expected. We have been successful in getting our message out for the last several years. The Town of Hempstead has more than 800,000 residents. With the exception of one civic association from one part of one village, there has never been any serious opposition. We'd like to believe our hosting of over 200 public meetings had something to do with it."Picker, Wang and Rechler refuse to discuss in detail what happens in two weeks if Hempstead does not respond. Queens, Brooklyn and Kansas City are among eight municipalities that have expressed interest in the Islanders to the NHL. Southern Ontario is believed to be poking around. "I don't know," said Picker. "We want to stay optimistic. If the date passes we'll see."
The date will pass. After Oct. 3, the Islanders will listen to offers from any city that wants a National Hockey League franchise. The game of chicken continues.
Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Oh Chris, we need you of all people to be positive. No bull of course. But we need to stay positive. They HAVE to get this done. Bettman needs to get involved more. Someone needs to get involved before we lose the one thing that I, like thousands and thousands of others, lose the one thing that I love about living on Long Island. Without the Islanders here, I will probably lose interest in my favorite sport. Life would not be the same. The Islanders are Long Island. Not Brooklyn, Not Queens, Not Hamilton. Long Island. They NEED to work something out!!
I understand the first want to keep the team on The Island. However, we must look back to the 1950s when the Brooklyn Dodgers were trying to get a new stadium built in Brooklyn. At the time, Robert Moses was only going to allow the Dodgers to build a stadium in Flushing where Shea and now Citifield stand. Everybody in Brooklyn whined and whined about how the Dodgers were "Brooklyn's" team. This is just how some Islander fans whine about it being "Long Island's" team. If the Dodgers had just agreed to a stadium in Queens, they would have stayed in New York! What would you rather do, drive an extra 20 minutes or half hour to a game, or LOSE THE TEAM. Let's not be ignorant here, if we can get an arena in Brooklyn or Queens, we should be thrilled!
CB, great read but not what I exactly wanted to read. I have been very optimistic with the project from the start - even with the drawn out process. But after today that optimism is gone. I feel like everything is going in circles and will eventually fall apart. What bothers me is that I remember CW stating that he would be open to ideas for changes in the project to get it moving along yet nothing has really been brought up in that manner. What happens now in the next two weeks? I think I have a better chance of walking to the moon than CW getting approval by Oct. 3rd...
At this point I am just hoping they stay in New York.
Considering that moving the team would take years, I'm not surprised that the Town is thumbing its nose at the October 3 deadline. It's really bizarre that there is no organized opposition to the project and yet there's still all this nonsense.
Incidentally, I'm sorry to see Botta import his annoying habit of describing himself in the third person. They didn't "tell Fanhouse" anything; they told it to *you*, Chris.
no organized opposition? that is a joke. many of the surrounding towns are opposed on enviromental, overcrowding, safety, traffic and a host of other issues. The truth is Wang is using the Islanders as a bargaining chip to jam through a development proposal that would never even be considered if the Islanders weren't part of it. the Islanders bring negligible economic benefit to the area.....let them leave if the alternative is to destroy the suburban quality of life in Nassau county.
Chris,
It was great meeting you at the zoning hearing. Not sure how much more we can take of this. Hopefully what we saw was a lot of posturing by the Town, but I still think this project is way beyond their capabilities, so who knows what will happen. At this point, it would just be nice to have an answer either way, so that we know where the Islanders stand.
How about Suffolk County? Theres alot of property in CI.Old State Hosp Grounds. Off the Sag Pkwy between LIE and Northen State.They have a ball park in that location allready.
xqqme22: mr. wang has invested so much money in developing the lighthouse... i can't imagine him starting from scratch
With all the money Wang has lost (I know he and Rechler stand to make a fortune if this goes through) I cannot fault him for moving th eteam.
I have been a fan since th elate 70's.
I have been going to the Coliseum every season since 1977. It is a great place to watch a game (sightlines are unbelievable) but forget about getting decent food, good beer, or trying to go to th ebathroom.
The Isles cannot compete in that building.
The only good thing is their cable tv deal. Everything and I mean everything else is terrible.
So if Wang is not going to get his deal I cannot blame him for cutting his losses and leaving.
I now he suffered the losses because he saw the potential to develop the surrounding land.
Nassau County politics have always resembled a corrupt backwater town.
Now they are running the only professional team (and all the tax revenue it generates) out of the county.
Nassau County residents already pay some of the highest property taxes in the country (the average family pays roughly 12,000 a year for a normal home).
So where will they make up the tax revenue loss?
This stinks as a fan.
But to lose your team and not fault the owner?!?!
This isn't Irsay leaving in the middle of th enight.
This is a group of corrupt (Kate Murray's 80 year old dad was a consultant for the town at 80K a year- a job created for him) politicians being bankrolled by other interests.
All the residents of Garden City can backslap each other today.
Tomorrow they can see their tax bills rise to cover the shortfall.
They can also see their surrounding area deteriorate even more.
Hello Queens? Hello Brooklyn? How'd you like a hockey team?
- Sumo Goalie
Chris - I was at just the evening session. To me the most telling part of the night was at the end, when Ms. Murray asked supporters to stand up, then asked those opposed to stand. As you said, the overwhelming majority were in favor. And she had to know that before she asked. So why did she ask? If she was 100% set on shooting this down, I do not think she would have done that. That tells me this is going to happen.
Queens would be great -- Even Brooklyn is OK but my preference is for them to stay on Long Island. Please get this done.
Aren't Brooklyn and Queens ON Long Island?
I am all for the Lighthouse and I hope it gets done, but if it is not approved, why doesn't Wang just build a state of the art arena in the same Uniondale lot to replace the Coliseum? That is what the Pens are doing with the Igloo. We have our Crosby in Tavares, a committed owner in Wang, so since we wouldn't get a Lighthouse by moving to another city- Brooklyn and Queens would just be nice new arenas, why not just focus their energy on building a top notch facility right next to the coliseum? The one positive I see from moving to Brooklyn or Queens would be a probable increase in attendance given that there would be much better public transportation available to get to the games from all boroughs and cities in the tri-state area.
MW147...I couldnt agree more. that there alone says something major. When that many people stand up, then its gotta say something to Murray.
I am still confident that the project will get the thumbs up. Maybe not by the Oct 3rd deadline but when push comes to shove, it will hapen. Kind if like what hapened with Pittsburgh. It will probably come to that point and then go through.
Queens, Brooklyn, ugh, no thanks...it's easier to take the lirr tin can into MSG to see the Rags...no thanks
Actually if they were to move to Brooklyn you can take the LIRR to Flatbush Ave. right across from the newly proposed arena.
This is really making me sick. The Devils got a new arena in Newark, and they can't even sell out their playoff games! This team needs to move to Queens. I don't know how most fans feel but if the team leaves the New York area I will no longer be a fan.
We should move into the Garden. The Staples Center has 3 teams, why not MSG.