XL Center Makeover Comes With Hefty Price Tag

[FDNY99]

Wang gambled and put his faith into Nassau County politics instead of getting in on the Barclay's project. That arena is no where near hockey friendly but they have a sweetheart deal that ensures a profit no matter what. How about those clowns in Nassau County? What a bunch of clowns.

The county lost...BUT the Town of Hempstead Supervisor screwed the pooch BIG time when she railroaded the Lighthouse project that he proposed and was going to bankroll on his own.

 

[zls44]

They can't do major adjustments at Barclays without blowing up the entire thing and rebuilding it. This is what they've got.

 

[The X Man]

Just curious. What makes Barclays a good basketball but a horrible hockey arena?

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Just curious. What makes Barclays a good basketball but a horrible hockey arena?

Sightlines. It was built as a basketball-only arena, thus the structure of the seating bowl is centered around only a basketball court, instead of the 200x85 hockey rink. Therefore, when they rig a hockey rink in there, they have to push into the seating bowl to do it, creating a large number of horribly obstructed view seats. Like this: https://snyislanders.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo-2-2.jpg
http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nhl/blog/061813_barclays.jpg

 

[FDNY99]

Sightlines. It was built as a basketball-only arena, thus the structure of the seating bowl is centered around only a basketball court, instead of the 200x85 hockey rink. Therefore, when they rig a hockey rink in there, they have to push into the seating bowl to do it, creating a large number of horribly obstructed view seats. Like this: https://snyislanders.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo-2-2.jpg
http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nhl/blog/061813_barclays.jpg

GREAT place to see a concert too

 

[Adios]

Sightlines. It was built as a basketball-only arena, thus the structure of the seating bowl is centered around only a basketball court, instead of the 200x85 hockey rink. Therefore, when they rig a hockey rink in there, they have to push into the seating bowl to do it, creating a large number of horribly obstructed view seats. Like this: https://snyislanders.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo-2-2.jpg
http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nhl/blog/061813_barclays.jpg

One of those things that make you wonder whether you should laugh or cry. Islanders might as well move back to the old rink.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

GREAT place to see a concert too

Don't know if this is sarcastic, but I saw one there last year and it was pretty good. Better than MSG actually, echoes there were terrible.

 

[FDNY99]

Don't know if this is sarcastic, but I saw one there last year and it was pretty good. Better than MSG actually, echoes there were terrible.

Not sarcastic in the least...truthful. Barclays
Was made for the Nets and concerts.

 

[J187Money]

Not sarcastic in the least...truthful. Barclays Was made for the Nets and concerts.

My boss is a big Isles fan. Has been a couple of times already. Hates it for hockey.

 

[FartMan69]

The county lost...BUT the Town of Hempstead Supervisor screwed the pooch BIG time when she railroaded the Lighthouse project that he proposed and was going to bankroll on his own.

Didn't the deal breaker have something to do with the height of the buildings? Talk about looking for a reason to be incompetent.

 

[BoatShow]

At the very least just fix the GD sound system

 

[FDNY99]

Didn't the deal breaker have something to do with the height of the buildings? Talk about looking for a reason to be incompetent.

I don't remember exactly what it was...but she is enemy #1 out on the Island.

 

[ct06111]

Didn't the deal breaker have something to do with the height of the buildings? Talk about looking for a reason to be incompetent.

Not exactly sure, I'm not from LI,'but it was a ill timed referendum vote involving the new arena costs and most folks saw it as a $27 dollar per household tax increase and not looking at it as saving the isles at the time. Too bad their taxes are going up because the isles left. Kate Murray is the bitc hes name

Current events: this is turning into an isles thread
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hocke...-to-last-in-nhl-so-far-this-season-1.11134940

 

[whaler11]

I stopped reading at the point where you believed the Devils were at the BU-UConn game because they're scouting the arena/location to move to.

I actually heard from another source that the Devils had people in town talking to the state. It makes zero sense to me either but I did hear it from a decent source.

 

[FDNY99]

Not exactly sure, I'm not from LI,'but it was a ill timed referendum vote involving the new arena costs and most folks saw it as a $27 dollar per household tax increase and not looking at it as saving the isles at the time. Too bad their taxes are going up because the isles left. Kate Murray is the bitc hes name

Current events: this is turning into an isles thread
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hocke...-to-last-in-nhl-so-far-this-season-1.11134940

To be honest..most of the Town of Hempstead is a s**thole. The Islanders leaving aren't the only reason taxes are going up out there...they have lost a ton of business too.

 

[ct06111]

I actually heard from another source that the Devils had people in town talking to the state. It makes zero sense to me either but I did hear it from a decent source.

So it wasn't just me??? Thank you for backing up my rumor claim...
I'm thinking AHL team cause they only have 1 year lease in Albany and Wolfpack could be done this year. Devils AHL teams ruin markets so I'm not too keen on them possibly moving here. Just speculating.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I actually heard from another source that the Devils had people in town talking to the state. It makes zero sense to me either but I did hear it from a decent source.

The Devils a relatively new (2007) arena in the Rock that is located in the country's largest TV. Though Newark is a tough town, downtown is OK and its relative easy to get in and out of by car and it has direct access to both rail (Amtrak & NJ transit) and Subway (PATH). The team is not great this year; but are still drawing 13,600 on average per game (area capacity 16,500) in a state that has decent hockey roots. Their only downside is that NYC is a Rangers town and MSG is literally a 20 minute subway ride away. Thus, they are not moving to Hartford.

I suspect any talk between Hartford and the Devils has to do with the AHL shuffling going on right now with, from what I have heard, talk of the Islanders moving their AHL franchise from Bridgeport to the renovated and downsized Nassau Coliseum in 2017, which then may attract the Rangers to move their club to Bridgeport, which is already filled with Rangers fans. Thus, the Devils may took to compare Albany to Hartford.

http://theahl.com/stats/schedule.php?view=attendance

 

[whaler11]

The Devils a relatively new (2007) arena in the Rock that is located in the country's largest TV. Though Newark is a tough town, downtown is OK and its relative easy to get in and out of by car and it has direct access to both rail (Amtrak & NJ transit) and Subway (PATH). The team is not great this year; but are still drawing 13,600 on average per game (area capacity 16,500) in a state that has decent hockey roots. Their only downside is that NYC is a Rangers town and MSG is literally a 20 minute subway ride away. Thus, they are not moving to Hartford.

I suspect any talk between Hartford and the Devils has to do with the AHL shuffling going on right now with, from what I have heard, talk of the Islanders moving their AHL franchise from Bridgeport to the renovated and downsized Nassau Coliseum in 2017, which then may attract the Rangers to move their club to Bridgeport, which is already filled with Rangers fans. Thus, the Devils may took to compare Albany to Hartford.

http://theahl.com/stats/schedule.php?view=attendance

That makes sense. It went in one ear and out the other when I heard it and had completely forgotten until I saw the post here.

 

[Dooley]

Sightlines. It was built as a basketball-only arena, thus the structure of the seating bowl is centered around only a basketball court, instead of the 200x85 hockey rink. Therefore, when they rig a hockey rink in there, they have to push into the seating bowl to do it, creating a large number of horribly obstructed view seats. Like this: https://snyislanders.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo-2-2.jpg
http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nhl/blog/061813_barclays.jpg

Wow, those are some atrocious sightlines. Reminds me of Phoenix...

 

[hardcorehusky]

Hartford is just not a major league city.. period... Don't plan on the NHL coming back, there just isn't the interest... Sad to say, but the Whale didn't draw that well and their contract with the state was the worst... Ask yourself this.. all things being equal, Quebec and Hartford are up for a team.. Which city will support its team better... no contest.. Quebec gets the team. Everyone here is bitching about football attendance at the UConn games.. If there's a bad team in the ice in Hartford, no one is going... I hate to say it, but it's the truth.. I would be a season tix holder, but I would be one of about 5,000.. maybe.

It wasn't attendance that was the problem. It was a crappy TV contract combined with the expenses and lack of revenue from concessions splits that caused Karmanos to gaze toward Carolina. I still hate him and have never recovered as an NHL fan once the Whale left.

 

[FASTEDDY]

If they don't build the $250 million new XL Center now, then they will spend $350 million to do it 5 -10 years from now.

Do it now, save money and let's REVIVE HARTFORD!

 

[CL82]

If they renovate an old building with a poor concept for the $250 million new XL Center now, then they will spend $500 million to replace it 5 -10 years from now.

Think before you act, save money and let's REVIVE HARTFORD's finances!

 

[FartMan69]

If they renovate an old building with a poor concept for the $250 million new XL Center now, then they will spend $500 million to replace it 5 -10 years from now.

Think before you act, save money and let's REVIVE HARTFORD's finances!

State money

 

[ConnHuskBask]

There is absolutely no way that spending $250M to refurbish a dump of arena will do anything to revitalize downtown Hartford.

How can they even begin to justify that when every study has indicated building a sports arena has no impact on local economics.

Also if you're going to blow $250M on a half assed measure that still will need to replaced in the not so distant future,just go all in and build a new state of the art building.

 

[Stinger92860]

There is absolutely no way that spending $250M to refurbish a dump of arena will do anything to revitalize downtown Hartford.

How can they even begin to justify that when every study has indicated building a sports arena has no impact on local economics.

Also if you're going to blow $250M on a half assed measure that still will need to replaced in the not so distant future,just go all in and build a new state of the art building.

How much would it cost to increase the size of the rent, build a retractable dome, close the sides and heat the place? Would it cost more than 250m? It would revitalize east Hartford!

 

[ct06111]

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

All signs points to relocating a team to Quebec and expanding in Seattle and Vegas. This solves the unbalanced conference sizes and puts a team back in Canada where it will undoubtedly be a rousing success. Quebec just opened a brand spanking new arena a couple of months ago that's set and ready to go for an NHL team.

 

[Dooley]

Quebec losing its franchise is one of the greatest NHL injustices in the history of the league. Le Colissee was sold out even in the 6-win campaign seasons. The Nordiques moved to Denver right when they became an elite team for years after trading for Patrick Roy. I'll be excited to see a team back in Quebec. To be honest, I feel that Quebec should have gotten a team back before Winnipeg but whatever - at least Canada is being properly replenished with franchises.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Quebec losing its franchise is one of the greatest NHL injustices in the history of the league. Le Colissee was sold out even in the 6-win campaign seasons. The Nordiques moved to Denver right when they became an elite team for years after trading for Patrick Roy. I'll be excited to see a team back in Quebec. To be honest, I feel that Quebec should have gotten a team back before Winnipeg but whatever - at least Canada is being properly replenished with franchises.

Minneapolis losing the North Stars to Dallas was also a huge mistake along with putting teams in Atlanta (twice), S Florida, Phoenix, and soon to be Las Vegas.

 

[Dooley]

Minneapolis losing the North Stars to Dallas was also a huge mistake along with putting teams in Atlanta (twice), S Florida, Phoenix, and soon to be Las Vegas.

Atlanta and Miami are two of the worst sports markets in the U.S. They barely support football and baseball; putting a northern sport in both of those cities falls under desperately wishful thinking. Would love to see the Panthers relocate to Quebec.

Minnesota struggled with attendance before their move to Dallas but their image was saved during their Cup run in the final season. Everyone remembered what a sold-out arena felt like in Minneapolis and there was a rush to get their franchise back. Not to mention, it's probably the richest hockey area in the U.S. that produces top talent on annual basis. I'm happy they have a team again for sure.