The "Auto Lodge" will be traded in by Nassau County voters today. The only uncertainty: What will become of all the lousy-arena jokes?
Twenty-eight hundred fans and construction workers stood outside the Coliseum and listened to the arguments put forth by local politicians and Charles Wang as to why Nassau County residents must vote for a new building. They sang and danced to Blue Oyster Cult music when they weren't chanting “Build It Now!”
By any stretch, the small number that was at the Coliseum were on board. Come Monday, it will be seen if their neighbors and friends feel the same.
The prediction here is that voters will authorize Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano to use $400 million of public funds create a New Nassau Coliseum.
Let us be clear. There is little in the business of sports that is more distasteful than franchises holding up municipalities for state-of-the-art arenas. Equal to that would be Personal Seat Licenses, which Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs suggested could work in a contentious interview with WFAN radio host Mike Francesa on Tuesday. Jacobs also suggested that there were private developers who could build a new arena in “18 months.”
Speaking with Francesa later that afternoon, Wang dismissed Jacobs’ thinking, arguing that it would take “30 months” for the arena to be built. Mangano followed Wang’s lead at the rally when asked by HockeyPrimeTime.com for his reaction to Jacobs’ assertions.
“Where’s the deal? He had 10 years (when) his party was in charge, he was running the show,” Mangano said. “He brought nothing that got completed. Where’s the deal? Bring it forward.”
Mangano believes the erection of a new Nassau Coliseum will “hold the line” on taxes. A recent study stated Nassau County residents pay $8,200 a year in property taxes. The County Executive also pointed to the employment and financial benefits the proposed building would bring to Nassau County.
As important as it is for the County to have a job and revenue creator, the Islanders steadfastly believe it is vital that they have a new building.
Nassau Coliseum has had a hard life. Walk inside what was once Fort Neverlose and you’re greeted by loose railings, broken ceiling tiles, and a home dressing room that is not much bigger than a one-bedroom apartment.
“The NHL is getting better and better. The rinks and arenas are getting better and better. All of the facilities players have available to them, especially at the state-of-the-art facilities, (are) pretty ridiculous,” Matt Moulson said at the rally. “Everything. The atmosphere. One in particular that comes to mind is Vancouver. The atmosphere they have there, what they’re able to do with the room. The Coliseum, they’ve made changes, but it’s a lot harder when you have to rip up stuff.
Asked what the reaction from opposing players has been regarding the Coliseum, Moulson cleverly noted, “I haven’t heard too many say they loved it. Honestly, some players do enjoy playing here but I’d say for the most part a lot of people don’t.”
Organizational decision makers believe that a new arena will allow the franchise to be competitive in the free agent market. GM Garth Snow compared the Coliseum to “an Auto Lodge” when he, owner Charles Wang and then coach Scott Gordon met with the media on the first day of training camp. HockeyPrimeTime.com reminded Snow of his words when asking if he felt as if the team needed to add players via trades or free agency on the night when 22 busloads of Quebec Nordiques fans filled the Coliseum in an attempt to convince the NHL that Quebec City deserves an NHL franchise.
“We’re obviously in a rebuilding mode here. We’re in a situation where we rely heavily on some young players. The one thing I’m proud of, since I became general manager, is our prospect pool has been replenished. Whether it is Nino Niederreiter playing for Portland of the WHL (or) Calvin de Haan, who could be the captain of the Canadian World Junior team (or) Matt Donovan at Denver (University), we have a situation where we’re going with young players and I’m not going to deviate from the plan to rebuild through the draft,” Snow said. “I’m not going to trade the young prospects, whether (they) are in Bridgeport or junior hockey (or) college hockey or Europe for a quick fix. If there’s something that makes sense for us, not just the short term but in the long term, we’ll look at it. There (have) been several occasions where we’ve added players via free agency, trade, through waivers.”
Snow has had some success. He acquired goaltender Al Montoya in a mid-season trade from Phoenix and picked up Calder Trophy finalist Michael Grabner off of waivers from Florida. Still, the Isles are $9.1 million under the cap floor. Some of that money will be earmarked for long-term contracts for John Tavares and Josh Bailey.
There is something to be said for having a house before buying furniture. But perception is reality. And when the general manager of a professional sports franchise draws a sarcastic analogy between “an Auto Lodge” and his team’s home arena, as Snow did last September, the lasting feeling is that those in positions of responsibility feel as if they cannot compete for premier talent.
But why not at least make an attempt to change how your team is viewed?
It can be argued that Snow missed an opportunity to change the perception of the franchise by not putting offer sheets to Zach Parise, Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty and Shea Weber. One or two of those players, merging with the Islanders’ corps, could have put the franchise in playoff contention.
Instead, the franchise is negotiating with Alex Yashin.
Perhaps the Islanders will be able to compete for the NHL’s best – and the franchise’s fifth Cup – once the new building opens its doors.
On Twitter: @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman
Photo by Getty Images | 
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