It appears that where the Islanders eventually end up will have a major bearing on the NYC2 soccer club. They are both competing for a location in Queens. It would make the most sense for the Islanders to go to Brooklyn and share the Barclays Center with the Nets. But logic doesn't always happen. http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local...ns_battle_for_the_islanders_team_brewing.html
I think the local community will have something to say about this in the next few days. And it will be nyet to hockey, I suspect.
plus the isles are locked into the nassau coliseum until 2015...the cosmos deal will sink/swim long before the isles move somewhere.
Yea - Metro is right - for those familiar with the area - do you think the local community is filled with Hockey Fans? Stay tuned this week, I think there will be some talk about this, and not from the Cosmos
Now is the time to talk about it. If the Islanders are coming to Queens in 2015 or shortly thereafter, they have to start making preliminary plans, such as planning to build an indoor arena, now.
If the Islanders want to come to Queens, and Corona in particular, they will be met with MASSIVE RESISTANCE from the community!
no question its the time for the islanders, but the cosmos timetable has to be more aggressive....but I assume you are expecting they are vying for same location which I dont think is the issue.
The Isles are in bad shape. Very bad shape. http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/islanders-on-thin-ice-old-arena-weak-play-1.2613509
yo - can you possibly PM me the story or if you want ill give you my email address - i dont have access and would like to read the whole article. Thank you
First, newsday is a horrible place to get isles news. second, i cant see the whole article but wang is a crook. they are not losing millions, the man reports loses around 20 mil a year when in reality it is 4 mil, and there are reports that he may be in the black this year. he is trying to pass off his cheapness to the fans as a "rebuild". i didnt know coming in last and picking first in the draft every year was a rebuild. they could have already had a new arena if he stopped acting like a spoiled 2 year old with the town of hempstead. he either gets his whole mini-city he wants to build or thats it. he wont negotiate at all. according to the original deal when the coliseum was built the owner can develop the plot that the arena sits on whenever they want. wang put them in this hole and is holding the franchise hostage and islander fans are begging for the nhl to step in and take action like they did to help out in phoenix. islanders fans have already proved themselves in the past and just need any reason at all to comne back. i went from going to at least 15 games a year to refusing to spend another penny on wang the criminal, and many other fans have done the same.
Possible barrier to the Cosmos in Queens? wanted to share some interesting tidbits are a result of the fallout from the failed NY Islanders referendum in Nassau County. http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2011/08/the-islanders-have-friends-in-queenschamber-now-is-the-time-for-talks-to-begin/
not a barrier. They look like they are talking Willets Point. That's going to take a very long time to clear and repurpose.
Guys - even though the NHL is more popular in our country (argument for a different thread) please please please dont just assume that the Islanders are going to be in Queens. For those not from NY - trust us, and for those who live here, take a walk through Flushing Meadow park on a weekend. Take a walk and look at the people who are already unahppy with the Wilpon Family Then take notice of the top sport being played in the park on a weekend. I dont see people dressing up in pads and skates, no I see them grabbing a ball, 21 of their friends and hitting the pitch. Yes, the local leaders see that. The local leaders that rely on these people for votes to further their career. What im getting is - that area is nto a HOCKEY area. The isles would be better off going to Brooklyn and sharing with the Nets (ps I heard Marty Markowitz said he was interested? Can anyone confirm?) Anyhow, the local leaders, if they are forced to choose in Public, and choose Hockey over Soccer in that area of Queens, they can kiss their political careers goodbye. Is it possible, YES but you think building a soccer stadium in that area is going to be hard. Try to convince the largely Latino community and the Latino community leaders that Hockey would be better off in their community than more Club America, Chivas, Pumas friendly matches.
With the Mets at Citi Field, the Islanders at an arena replacing the chop shops next to Citi Field, and the Cosmos in Corona, I would happily make Queens my home for the rest of my life.
HAHA - someone on one of the supporter clubs boards used Google earth and cropped out the Nassau Colly and RBA and placed them in Willets point - they both would fit. That would be amazing for sure!
GUYS, THE PEOPLE OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT ARE NOT HOCKEY FANS THEREFORE THERE WILL BE NO HOCKEY ARENA BUILT THERE do you understand how stupid that sounds? Do you know what means more to Queens pols than making sure their (largely unable to vote, let's be honest) foriegn born constiuents are happy? Making assloads of money on conventions by building an arena/convention center within a 5 minute drive of JFK plus having 41 home dates a year and major summer concerts. Pluses for soccer stadium: Large Latino community Cheaper Pluses for hockey arena: Much, much, much more money staying in Queens via conventions... and that's the real point... the reason this is even an option at all is because the Queens Chamber of Commerce knows that a convention center in that area would be huge. PS: I believe the majority of people in Flushing, by a huge number, are Asian. That may bode well for the hockey team owned by, you know, a billionaire of Chinese descent.
A convention center isn't out of the scope of this project but that doesn't mean no soccer or only hockey. What is means now is that the Willets Point Redevelopment project now has taken on a completely different importance. And that importance is what we are banking on. Convention center - jobs Stadiums - jobs Year round community - jobs And in this economic environment that word means ALOT. The Willets Point area needs redevelopment, now it's all a matter of how it's going to happen. If you are going to take land and move people out of their livelihoods to put in a hockey arena that is going to use by people that don't live in queens you are going to have a tough time getting re elected- not all Hispanics are foreign born. I was born here and vote every chance I get, even by proxy if I have to. In the end, this community needs this project, not only for it's economic development but for the sense of belonging that a soccer stadium would impart to the residents of the area.
You make a fair point - i hear what you are saying - they all are curupt and money talks. Yea. I hear ya. I still think the local leaders in that area would prefer soccer over hockey because of their communities but yea - money talks.
Speaking of community, Wang comes from Flushing. Attended Queens College. His family owned the restaurant "Lum's" which existed on Northern Blvd in Flushing for many years. And there is the Charles B Wang (non-profit) Community Health Center in Flushing. Some comments here give the impression that Wang is an interloper in the Flushing area. That is not the case.
Well now the question about Wang is -is he done? Does he love the team that much that he is willing to embark on another stadium building venture. There are many who believe he was just in for the real estate. Remember, he was pretty much conned into buying the islanders in the first place. He was promised his development. It will be an interesting story line for sure.
Wang is at least $300 million in the hole with the Islanders. He needs the development to break even... no way is he done.
Right - but where else is he getting development? In Queens - all the requests for proposals for Willets Point were entered already - that deadline was like 2 years ago So unless he put something in at that time he might be out of a chance there. Yes, there was a lot of talk about a convention center there, and maybe he can jump in with a developer that has plans in for a convention center, but large scale development he states he needs to make back his money, I don't think he can get that in queens. The only place he was getting large scale development was where he was, which is why some feel he might sell. Honestly, if its an ARENA only type of thing, his best bet is to cut a deal in Brooklyn. It is right near major transportation and would draw just as well there. Also right near the LIRR for the LI based fans. That arena will be already built, he might not have to invest as much money up front. Which he has already spent a lot trying to get his developments. I can see the islanders coming to Queens though if Wang is just fine with a new arena. I dont think he gets an arena, a hotel etc.
There are other sites besides the one in Queens (people keep mentioning the Pilgrim site in Suffolk, and there's a plan to keep the team in Uniondale as well)... but if the borough wants it to happen, it will. And it's probably the best option for the team if we're being realistic about it. EDIT: Also, it's possible to have the SSS on Flushing Meadows (cue Homer Simpson video) park and an arena elsewhere near Citifield on the Willets Point footprint with everyone living happily