Semi-OT: Dolan part of investor group seeking to build arena in Belmont for Islanders

[Crease]

The notion of the Islanders potentially building a new arena in Willets Point (next to Citi Field and the National Tennis Center) has been kicked around a while now, most recently last summer.

Today, Bloomberg reports those talks have started up again. Dolan, interestingly enough, is involved:

The new arena proposal is a joint venture between the Islanders, Oak View Group and Sterling Project Development, said the people, who asked to be anonymous because the talks are private. James Dolan’s Madison Square Garden Co., which controls the Rangers, long the Islanders hated rivals, is an investor in Oak View Group, the private equity group run by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff. The Wilpon family, which owns the Mets, controls Sterling Project Development.

This is kosher by the way:

NHL rules permit the owner of one team to have a stake in another club’s arena.

In another example, AEG owns the Kings and partially owns T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-24/ny-rangers-owner-dolan-said-to-back-new-home-for-islanders

Update: Misread the article. The new focus is on Belmont, not Willets Point.

Click to read more...

 

[Irishguy42]

If the Islanders got an arena in Willets Point, I'd actually go to NHL games because it would be A) close enough that I could just take the bus/short train ride and B) Islanders games will be cheaper than Rangers games.

 

[Crease]

I hope this works out. I really like the idea behind the Willets Point Development and a healthy Islanders franchise makes the division fun.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Might be missing something here but it seems like they've shifted their focus to building next the the Belmont Racetrack rather than near city field or Willets Point

Since then, the parties have switched their focus to in the Belmont site in Elmont, New York, which is controlled by the New York Racing Authority and sits about 19 miles east of Manhattan, just outside of Queens. It is accessible by car and by regional rail, and an arena there would bring the team closer to its traditional Nassau County fan base.

Personally I think that makes more sense travel wise, Isles fans can drive in somewhat easily from the north and south shore.

 

[CommaSynapse]

Really close to me. I'd like this for the fact it would be very local hockey, but I'm cringing at the resulting traffic.

Traffic during the US Open is unreal. Baseball season can suck, too.

 

[Crease]

Might be missing something here but it seems like they've shifted their focus to building next the the Belmont Racetrack rather than near city field or Willets Point

Personally I think that makes more sense travel wise, Isles fans can drive in somewhat easily from the north and south shore.

Right you are. They're focusing on Belmont now. I didn't read the article carefully enough. I'd personally like to see them in Willets Point though.

 

[cwede]

If the Islanders got an arena in Willets Point, I'd actually go to NHL games because it would be A) close enough that I could just take the bus/short train ride and B) Islanders games will be cheaper than Rangers games.

this is what i told myself when Devs moved to Newark,
it is half the trip to MSG for me, and train from my town

but it ain't the same

i only go to 1 or 2 at most, if that many, in a season
haven't been yet this season

 

[NYRFAN218]

this is what i told myself when Devs moved to Newark,
it is half the trip to MSG for me, and train from my town

but it ain't the same

i only go to 1 or 2 at most, if that many, in a season
haven't been yet this season

I'm about 20 minutes away from Barclays by train and thought them in Brooklyn would lead me going to a decent amount of games.

I went to two non Ranger games last year and three this season. All of which were free minus one game otherwise I wouldn't have gone.

 

[JRinNYC]

Looking at a map of Belmont Racetrack, I really don't see much space available for an arena and parking. Do they plan on putting the arena in the middle of the practice track?

 

[JRinNYC]

I'm about 20 minutes away from Barclays by train and thought them in Brooklyn would lead me going to a decent amount of games.

I went to two non Ranger games last year and three this season. All of which were free minus one game otherwise I wouldn't have gone.

I'm 1.6 miles away from Barclays (30 minute walk or a 20 minute ride on the bus). I've only gone to 5 games since the arena opened. Thinking of maybe hitting up an afternoon game next month. The arena is just not made for hockey. I also find the food/drinks to be more expensive than MSG.

 

[JimmyG89]

In the pic above, I believe that lower lot is used so infrequently, with the exception being once a year, it would gp there. There is definitely space available. The issue that would come up in when the Belmont Stakes is run, but I think they'd just deal with it.

I can also see them getting a big upgrade in LIRR there for the train station having an arena there. Could be a net positive in terms of transport.

 

[Lion Hound]

Floral Park can't catch a break.

First the whole 3rd rail thing.

Now the Islanders in their backyard?

 

[Mikos87]

I posted about this a possibility a few weeks ago. Regarding the interest in improving Long Island's infrastructure.

Interesting to see it out there like this now.

 

[hi]

Looking at a map of Belmont Racetrack, I really don't see much space available for an arena and parking. Do they plan on putting the arena in the middle of the practice track?

Here's the Barclays Center placed in the southern lot

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Here's the Barclays Center placed in the southern lot

There's def space there to do it, add two parking garages and their set. Cross Island would turn into a nightmare but it's pretty well situated travel-wise.

 

[JRinNYC]

There's def space there to do it, add two parking garages and their set. Cross Island would turn into a nightmare but it's pretty well situated travel-wise.

I bet the locals will love having the arena in their backyard. </s>

With all the traffic, people living near by probably hate dealing with the Belmont Stakes and that's just once a year. Now imagine 15% of that, for 44 games. The Cross Island Pkwy, and Hempstead Tpk are going to be a parking lot.

On the plus side, it will be nice to actually have public transportation to the arena. That's one thing I hated about the NVMC.

 

[nyrmetros]

How would the LIRR run regular service to Belmont? Do they have the capacity to?

 

[TheTakedown]

I bet the locals will love having the arena in their backyard. </s>

With all the traffic, people living near by probably hate dealing with the Belmont Stakes and that's just once a year. Now imagine 15% of that, for 44 games. The Cross Island Pkwy, and Hempstead Tpk are going to be a parking lot.

On the plus side, it will be nice to actually have public transportation to the arena. That's one thing I hated about the NVMC.

could the expand the cross island? I realize how much that would cost but there is room near the arena to do it.

 

[nyrmetros]

Any update on this ?

 

[Machinehead]

Does this mean we own the Islanders now?

 

[egelband]

Does this mean we own the Islanders now?

We own them figuratively already

 

[HFBS]

Does this mean we own the Islanders now?

Spare change lost in the couch cushions was never used for a more nefarious purpose.

 

[RangerLifer]

There's def space there to do it, add two parking garages and their set. Cross Island would turn into a nightmare but it's pretty well situated travel-wise.

Don't worry. Long Island people won't go there anyway, being that most Isles fans are from LI. They won't go anywhere near NYC, any borough. Anything past a certain exit going west is a no-go zone to those in mainly Suffolk, but a lot of Nassau County folks, too.

 

[Whiplash27]

Don't worry. Long Island people won't go there anyway, being that most Isles fans are from LI. They won't go anywhere near NYC, any borough. Anything past a certain exit going west is a no-go zone to those in mainly Suffolk, but a lot of Nassau County folks, too.

Don't blame them much, traffic on the Island sucks.

 

[nyrmetros]

How's the Lirr supposed to increase service there? Still have to transfer at Jamaica .. ...