Nassau County polls open in Islanders arena debate
by Donny Rivette on Aug 1, 2011 9:50 AM EDT
in NHL & General Hockey
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Denis Potvin. Olli Jokinen. Roberto Luongo. Branislav Mezei. Names which to this day still tend to elicit some form of emotion from hockey fans in South Florida. And then there's Bill Torrey.
What's the common link? All came to the Panthers via Uniondale, NY, current home - as it has been since 1972 - of the Islanders. Our franchise's roots to the "other" New York team are deep and countless (and a subject for another time).
Why bring any of this up on the first day of August in a summer of high hopes for Cats fans? Quite simply, the future of the Isles remaining in their city of origin could well be at stake.
Nassau County polls have been open since 6am, allowing local voters to decide the fate of what could be seen as a last-ditch effort to (publicly) fund a new arena, replacing a building which has housed the Islanders from their inaugural season. If the measure fails, owner Charles Wang may well conclude his time in Uniondale has come to an end.
Regardless of one's opinion on public dollars used to finance the needs of a privately-held, for-profit operation, it's the raw emotion involved that strikes deep into the heart of any sports fan. Short of those with dreams featuring NHL clubs in Quebec City, Hamilton, and every available flat slab of open real estate throughout Canada, no one wants to witness another relocation.
Relevant links: Lighthouse Hockey, NY Newsday (sub. req.), NY Times, NY Daily News
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Regardless of one’s opinion on public dollars used to finance the needs of a privately-held, for-profit operation, it’s the raw emotion involved that strikes deep into the heart of any sports fan.
That is what it comes down to tho huh? I know if I was put into that position, it is extremely hard to get me off my “no increase in tax for any reason” attitude. As much as I love hockey, I don’t know that the fear of a relocation would make me rethink.
GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)
Tough to divorce the two sides, agreed.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Aug 1, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
What is screwed up about all of this is, at one time Wang was gonna finance it with little or no government tax money, and the locals didn’t want it.
by MrOmnipotent on Aug 1, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Well that doesn’t make sense.
GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)
Sad, innit? He got it through the county government, but can’t get the town to approve the zoning.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Via Puck Daddy:
Nick Giglia of Let There Be Lighthouse weighs everything in the balance and most importantly, just what the cost would be:
This referendum must not be considered against a now-dead development proposal; it must be weighed against the cost of doing nothing.
Independent reviews have cut through the scare tactics and presented us with a stark choice. For example, the Office of Legislative and Budget Review pegs the cost of a new arena at a maximum of $13.80 per household per year.
The cost of doing nothing and losing the Islanders and Nassau Coliseum? $16 per household per year, with $243 million and 2,660 jobs projected to disappear from the Nassau County economy should the team move and the arena be shuttered. When presented with that choice, how can you choose nothing over something?
Why will doing nothing cost you $16 – what are you paying for by doing nothing?
GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)
$16 per household per year, with $243 million and 2,660 jobs projected to disappear from the Nassau County economy should the team move and the arena be shuttered.
They’re looking at the potential revenues (taxes?) lost from the team being there and the folks employed by the team no longer having jobs.
Come on Isles fans! I don’t want Rick Dipietro and his seven year contract, in Seattle!
by Alexander Calloway on Aug 1, 2011 12:19 PM EDT reply actions
not gonna happen, Seattle has no arena either. Hard to see the Islanders leaving New York regardless of what happens with this vote. Another area in greater NYC will step up.
Kansas City has a fancy new arena…
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Aug 1, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but the KeyArena only seats 11,000 when configured for hockey. Too small for the NHL. It’s also older than the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (KeyArena was built in 61, vs Nassau’s 72).
Easy, sir…this is the type of stuff we so tire of hearing out of the Toronto media
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Aug 1, 2011 5:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No worries, I wouldn’t want a team with that much history leaving, especially one in the anew York market. Be kinda like when the SuperSonics left Seattle.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Aug 1, 2011 5:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
*New York
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Aug 1, 2011 5:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No, no, no, no. This will be nothing like when the Sonics were stolen from Seattle.
by Alexander Calloway on Aug 1, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Well more in removing a team long entrenched in their area that has won championships kinda way. Not in bought out by an owner that was gonna move the team wrongfully kinda way.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Aug 1, 2011 7:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah I got that after I posted my comment. I don’t want the Islanders to move, they got history and like us, they had a bad decade. It’s really shocking how similar the Isles are to the Sonics, I just just hope Gary Bettman isn’t as evil as everyone says he is.
by Alexander Calloway on Aug 1, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Branislav Mezei.
Lurch!!
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
From what I’m hearing we should know within an hour or so what the outcome is..
I personally would vote yes, if it were my team I wouldn’t want to lose them, and I’d be willing to give up a mere 16$ a year to keep that.. come on, thats less than 2$ a month to have an NHL team nearby..
btw, people who have never watched an NHL game should be left out of voting, all they do is poison the well.
by Rob PKane McMahon on Aug 1, 2011 9:59 PM EDT reply actions
They’re the one’s paying for it, they deserve the right to vote as much as season ticket holders.
by Alexander Calloway on Aug 1, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s right. And the place wouldn’t just host the Islanders but others sports and entertainment events. Just because you don’t like hockey doesn’t mean you couldn’t go see something else at the arena. If I’m paying for it I better get my money’s worth. Some may not think it will be worth it, some do.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins, Noles
by National Mario on Aug 1, 2011 10:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Taxation without representation? Why’d they fight the American Revolution? Its kinda similar to the Panthers asking for $15 million from Broward County for upgrades to the BAC, when that money can be used to higher more school teachers, since its required by the newer class size quotas. Or to higher more fire and/or police men, as crime goes up during a recession/depression.
I dislike the idea of using public funds to build arenas and things, but if I lived anywhere on Long Island I’d vote yes because it would benefit me. But I dont, so thats that.
Theres so much waste in the govt that shooting down the Isles’ building (as a political statement) really doesnt amount to anything, especially when taxpayers have bigger fish to fry in Washington.
by Chris S Roberts on Aug 1, 2011 11:04 PM EDT reply actions
Long Island takes Atlanta’s place.
by Alexander Calloway on Aug 2, 2011 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions
it’s a shame… nobody will really know what will happen until 2015 but if nothing changes before then than this vote SUCKS..
now im not a islander fan, but my dad had season tickets from 73 until 84 witnessed their cup runs etc.. it’s a shame a team with such roots cant get any support.. new arena would mean more money for the team in the long run, more money = more support on the ice = winning..
fail.
by Rob PKane McMahon on Aug 2, 2011 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions
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