New York Islanders are already considering move from Barclays Center

After one decidedly sour season of home games at Barclays Center, the New York Islanders are considering a move .

The New York Islanders played their home games at Barclays Center last season, but they could be looking for a move out of Brooklyn sooner rather than later. According to Bloomberg, the Islanders are in talks with the owners of the New York Mets to build an arena adjacent to Citi Field in Queens.

The Islanders’ first season at Barclays Center was plagued by poor reviews from fans (obstructed views, etc.) and complaints from players about sub-par ice quality. Some hockey-specific improvements are surely in order for the Islanders to stay on as a tenant, but it remains to be seen if the Brooklyn Nets’ billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, would approve. That said, the New York Post reported back in February that the Islanders and Barclays Center were exploring ways to cut ties or at least alter the terms of the existing lease.

Barclays Center was of course built to fit an NBA team, and it has a 15,700 seat capacity for hockey including 1,500 seats with an obstructed view. The Islanders’ attendance dropped 11 percent in 2015-16 from the season before (13,626 fans per game), and only two teams (Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes) drew fewer fans. So it’s clear something has to change, and the Islanders’ owners are acting proactively to find a better situation.

As expected, spokespeople from both Barclays Center and the Islanders have declined to comment on any speculation about the team looking to move. But the Islanders appear to have the Mets in their corner at this early stage, which can only help them bolster an eventual case for public funding to build a new arena in Queens.

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