Barclays Center owner Mikhail Prokhorov is pressuring the Islanders to play a significant portion of their games during the 2018-2019 season at the Nassau Coliseum. Prokhorov, who also owns the Coliseum, is working to avoid defaulting on a contract signed by former owner Bruce Ratner, that guaranteed a professional hockey team would play at the recently renovated arena, in exchange for a contract to manage the facility. Negotiations are ongoing as the Barclays Center, which currently hosts the Islanders, is eager to get out the back-breaking deal that costs $55 million/year in guaranteed payments to the team, while the Islanders are looking for increased flexibility in the lease. The NHL has not announced if they would allow regular season games to be played at the Nassau Coliseum.
Prokhorov pressuring Islanders to play at Nassau Coliseum
Howie Long Short: When stadiums/arenas sit vacant, they lose money. It’s unfathomable to think that the Barclays Center is actually better off without the Islanders playing games there.
Fan Marino: The site lines at the Nassau Coliseum were among the best in the NHL. Fully supportive of this move.
