The 'Nos' Have It: Long Island Residents Reject New Arena Plan

Just forget you know what this looks like

According to reports on Long Island, voters rejected a referendum to borrow $400 million to build a new arena for the New York Islanders and build a minor baseball stadium.  The future of the Islanders is now in the air, as this was probably the last ploy by owner Charles Wang to keep the team on Long Island.  The team's lease in the rustic Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum runs out in 2015.

This means Kansas City's chances of getting a hockey team in the short-term remain on life support.  The Islanders uncertainty stems further than just the need for a new arena and lack of support in their current location, but also the New York area's ability to support three NHL franchises.  Of course, KC is a long shot, but another NHL franchise may be mobile unless Wang sells the team or he starts building an arena brick by brick in a field somewhere.

In the meantime, KC's focus should not be fully on landing an NHL team.  As KC hockey blogger pucKChaser says, grow the game in the area through a grassroots movement and youth involvement.  Quit closing local rinks, because that's just silly.

The Day of Arena Voting Will Come Anon

I was going to do something incredibly stupid and respond to certain snippets from press articles on the upcoming August 1^st vote on Long Island for a new arena/minor league ballpark/etc.  I was going to, but this article by Jed Morey at the Long Island Press has everything you will need to know to form your own damn opinions.  Basically, if Long Islanders vote yes on the arena proposal, they will be one step closer to a new arena and keeping their struggling (but up and coming) Islanders.  If they vote no, then for all intents-and-purpose owner Charles Wang will take his ball and go home (or relocate the team).  This new arena deal appears to be the final offer Wang is making to Nassau Countians to keep the Islanders on Long Island.

Of course, with a ‘no’ vote the implications for Kansas City become interesting.  For example, the city will be talked about for relocation, only to have the Islanders move to Brooklyn or somewhere in the greater New York City area.  Bu hey, the Sprint Center will be on the news!!!  Either way, who knows what will happen, but stay tuned to this channel on August 1^st or 2^nd (or whenever I feel like looking at the results).  This may mean something for KC...or not (especially with everyone calling KC's chances dead.  I don't believe they are dead, just unlikely that any one within the city would be willing to revive them).

Here is the argument for a ‘no’ vote.

Interesting stuff from over at Islanders’ blog Lighthouse Hockey about a realistic cost to taxpayers with or without a new arena.