It was almost 30 years ago that the New York Islanders began their run of four-straight Stanley Cup victories. They had sprung up from scratch in 1972 and quickly supplanted their local rival, the New York Rangers, as the preeminent hockey team in the area. But the team, which is currently the worst in the NHL, hasn’t won a playoff series since 1993 and may be moving out of town in the near future. While he hasn’t explicitly said it, Charles Wang sent a message to the Town of Hempstead last week with the scheduling of an exhibition game in Kansas City: approve the Lighthouse Project or lose the Islanders.
It is impossible to blame Wang for this stance. He is reportedly losing over $20 million a year on the Islanders and they play in the worst building in the league. So, you cannot blame him for wanting to change the facilities that the team plays in, but should the Lighthouse Project gain approval?
Yes, it should, but with some modifications. The website for the project bills it as “a modern 24/7 suburban center.” Besides redoing the Coliseum, there will be residential and commercial phases to it. All of this sounds good, but there are pointless features as well. Does the project really need a minor league ballpark? Not with the Cyclones in Brooklyn and the Ducks in Islip. Scrap that part. In addition, where is the public transportation? Currently, you cannot take the LIRR directly to the Coliseum, that has to change and a stop should be built into the project. Finally, in return for approval, the Islanders need to extend their lease of the Coliseum far beyond their proposed end of 2025.
Saving the Islanders will not be easy in this economic climate. The proposal claims that “Nassau County will not be providing any financial support for the project” and that claim needs to be examined closely. But, if it is true and the project is modified, keeping the Islanders is something that Long Islanders should get behind.
