Well, since the NHL is returning this year (and not that everybody cares), I thought I would do a few RATE THE ARENA threads once in a while again, like I did about a year ago, but stopped because the NHL was not gonna be happening that year! So here is the first, Nassau Coliseum in Long Island (Uniondale), NY, home of the New York Islanders. I couldn't find any GOOD pictures of the arena, though... The Isles won the 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983 Stanley Cup Championship in this building!

Year Built: 1972
Capacity: 16,297

http://www.autoexpo.com/images/nassauphoto.JPG
http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/NewYorkIslanders/front.jpg
http://alphamonkey.org/images/places/pl00027.jpg

Doesn't really look all that impressive, but has a great history and must still be a great place to watch hockey! 7/10!

It is the by far the worst arena in the NHL. I give it a 5.

Not quite rocking my boat, sorry.

Love that NHL, dunno why the Septics give a toss about their gridiron, rounders and b-ball when you have a sport as awesome as hockey on.

Love that NHL, dunno why the Septics give a toss about their gridiron, rounders and b-ball when you have a sport as awesome as hockey on.
It's because there are a lot of idiots in the media who love to put down the NHL every chance they get, and on sports shows they never mention hockey but have 20 topics on the New York Yankees. :bash:

BIGGEST ANTI-HOCKEY PRICK IN THE US MEDIA:

Stephen A. Smith
http://www.cnnsi.com/basketball/nba/1999/draft/news/1999/06/28/smith_lorenz_draft/t1_grab4.jpg

I have only been this place once, and that was for a Globetrotters game, plus I am not a fan of hockey.

Nice :D

Plans for the Lighthouse, a multi-billion dollar renovation and expansion of the Coliseum and transformation of the surrounding area into a bustling residential, commercial and entertainment district:

http://www.lighthouseli.com/

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/baumbach_lighthouse.jpg

7NebihclkyM

EXTRA BIG-ASS pictures here: :D

http://www.lighthouseli.com/m/rendering/0002_0003.jpg
http://www.lighthouseli.com/m/rendering/0003_0004.jpg
http://www.lighthouseli.com/m/rendering/0004_0005.jpg
http://www.lighthouseli.com/m/rendering/110507_006.jpg
http://www.lighthouseli.com/m/rendering/110507_0007.jpg
http://www.lighthouseli.com/m/rendering/0000_0001.jpg

Love that NHL, dunno why the Septics give a toss about their gridiron, rounders and b-ball when you have a sport as awesome as hockey on.
Dunno about gridiron, guess you could ask the same question about footy when you have Aussie Rules and Rugby.

Rounders is more like softball than baseball, BTW.

And last time I checked, basketball is the world's second-most-popular (and fastest-growing) sport.

And seriously dude, was the "septic/seppo" epithet really necessary? :(

It's because there are a lot of idiots in the media who love to put down the NHL every chance they get, and on sports shows they never mention hockey but have 20 topics on the New York Yankees. :bash:

BIGGEST ANTI-HOCKEY PRICK IN THE US MEDIA:

Stephen A. Smith
http://www.cnnsi.com/basketball/nba/1999/draft/news/1999/06/28/smith_lorenz_draft/t1_grab4.jpg

The biggest mistake the NHL made was relocating franchises from hockey markets like Hartford, Quebec and Winnipeg and moving them or expanding to places without much passion for or history in the sport (Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Phoenix, etc.); the only successful such move was the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas.

Although I would be happy for any major-league tenant to occupy Sprint Center in my hometown of Kansas City, I really believe Northern US and Canadian markets (especially Winnipeg) deserve a team before us or Houston. I think most here would much rather have NBA, anyway.

The Nassau Coliseum's exterior looks kinda boring, and its interior looks like it has no luxury boxes. The Islanders should have built a completely new arena instead of renovating/reconstructing the current one because I don't know how the stadium will be renovated in the future in order to bring it up to current NHL standards.

The Nassau Coliseum's exterior looks kinda boring, and its interior looks like it has no luxury boxes. The Islanders should have built a completely new arena instead of renovating/reconstructing the current one because I don't know how the stadium will be renovated in the future in order to bring it up to current NHL standards.

Watch the video. They're going to build around the exterior, expand and renovate the interior (councourses, concessions, bathrooms, etc.), and add corporate boxes.

I go to this building 8 times a year - 3 Rangers games, and a few other hockey games. I prefer watching hockey here than any of the other new arens that have been built. This place screams hockey barn when the Rangers play here. The arena has 1 concourse which 2 levels have to share. can be clausterphobic. great place to watch Rangers and Icelander fans fight eachother.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUX9HheLpWs&feature=related

Would the Islanders thrive if they were to make a move to Queens? I heard they have offered up some land near the new Citi Field to construct a new arena there. Does this have a possibility of happening? How would that affect the fanbase?

I thought the space next to Citi Field was supposed to be for a future soccer stadium should they ever wish to land a new MLS team.

Would the Islanders thrive if they were to make a move to Queens? I heard they have offered up some land near the new Citi Field to construct a new arena there. Does this have a possibility of happening? How would that affect the fanbase?

Not at all. Queens is Rangers land. It would be a huge mistake IMO.

And besides, the area near Shea needs a MLS team/stadium. That's the demographic there.

Well, tomorrow, they (more specifically Nassau County) go back to square one and announce something else.

http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=562386&navid=DL|NYI|home

Apparently, it will be dependent on the development of some land for a casino site.


MANGANO TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & JOB CREATION PLAN


Mineola, NY - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano will be joined by hundreds of local business, community and labor leaders on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in announcing a major Economic Development and Job Creation Plan to build a world-class sports-entertainment destination center. After months of intense media speculation, the County Executive will also announce plans to pursue the construction of an Indian gaming casino.

When:
Wednesday
May 11, 2011
11:00 a.m.

Where:
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Floor of the Arena - Enter at Box Office
1255 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, NY 11553

The biggest mistake the NHL made was relocating franchises from hockey markets like Hartford, Quebec and Winnipeg and moving them or expanding to places without much passion for or history in the sport (Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Phoenix, etc.); the only successful such move was the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas.

Although I would be happy for any major-league tenant to occupy Sprint Center in my hometown of Kansas City, I really believe Northern US and Canadian markets (especially Winnipeg) deserve a team before us or Houston. I think most here would much rather have NBA, anyway.

... I'd think at least Tampa and (maybe) Raleigh would get some what of the same "right" as Dallas. Other than those three, no other Southtern city should have an NHL team.

K.C. should get one well before Houston. I mean, it's not like Houstonians are even begging for NHL to come to their city. And Glendale is just delaying the inevitable.

Has demolition of the Nassau Veterans Coliseum been considered?