New York Islanders to play at Nassau Coliseum next season
Their new arena will be ready in a few years, so the New York Islanders will be going back to their old arena for some games next season.
The New York Islanders have been playing home games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the last three seasons, amid issues with ice conditions and site lines for fans. The team has been looking to make a move, and in December a bid to build a new arena at Belmont Park was approved.
The Islanders have been contractually obligated to play at Barclays Center through next season, with an official decision to opt-out of the remainder of a 25-year lease signed in 2015 coming. The new arena is expected to be ready for the 2021-22 season. But in the meantime, a temporary return to Nassau Coliseum in some capacity seemed likely.
On Monday, alongside New York governor Andrew Cuomo, the Islanders announced they’ll play 12 regular season games at Nassau Coliseum next season. Affectionately called “The Old Barn”, the Islanders’ re-designed old/new temporary home will hold 13,900 fans for NHL games. According to the plan that was laid out, in a more even split of home ice with Barclays Center, the Islanders will play at least 48 regular and preseason games back at Nassau Coliseum during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons
Governor Cuomo announces the #Isles will 12 play home games at @NYCBLive during the 2018-19 season and will split home ice between @NYCBLive and @barclayscenter the following season. pic.twitter.com/akJYYsSh9A
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 29, 2018
Going back to Long Island is only right for the Islanders and the NHL, as Nassau County fans that had trouble getting to Brooklyn for home games now have a far better chance to fill seats. A new arena plan gives the franchise some new life, and playing in a basketball arena as essentially a tenant of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets is coming to an end. If only partially over the next three seasons, ahead of the permanent move, the Islanders are coming home.