I am surprised that the shitty attendance happened so fast at the Barclays
I'm not. Although the team is coming off their best season in recent history, Barclays is not a hockey arena. Rink isn't even centered in the arena. The jumbotron is mostly in the offensive zone, and there are multiple sections with obstructed views. (Most notably the section in the balcony behind the defensive zone where you can't even see the goal) Not to mention the random fucking car in the corner.
The only way the isles can fix their attendance is to do some major renovations to a (practically) brand new arena.
There was no reason for Isles to leave Nassau... It was a great venue and easily accessible. I am surprised that the shitty attendance happened so fast at the Barclays... I figured it would take at least a year
Yes there was. Wang (prior owner) tried everything including primary self financing on building a new arena and financially revitalizing surrounding area. All Nassau County had to do was approve the project and give up the land. Yes some money was involved, but nothing to the magnitude that other rich owners have asked. After over 10 years of feet dragging and required bid and redesign presentations, he got tired of it and did the best he could to keep it at least in the area. He is very dedicated to the Island including funding and building several cultural and children supporting things. Murray, the key politician to finally squash the thing just paid dearly for it in the recent election. She was probably going to lose anyway, but got utterly obliterated due to the core Islander fans starting a social media campaign to ensure that. She is done. There is no way she can ever win elected office ever again.
Barclays move was doomed for failure before the word go. Not only is the arena beyond ill equipped for hockey - beyond the aforementioned poor arena design for hockey, the locker rooms were not big enough, etc, it's f'n Brooklyn. They haven't seen ice skates since the Indians sold their nearby land for beads. Anyone who was sold on Long Islanders trekking there was taken worse than those Indians.
Now they are rebuilding the Coliseum which desperately needed it. So finally back to your point it was a great arena - maybe 30 years ago. Now it was completely outdated and needed a wrecking ball. So, 1 of 2 things will happen within 5 years and neither involve them staying in Brooklyn. The most likely is a move out of the area which was threatened for years (but probably never happened because Charles Wang would never do that while he owned the team). Or a move back to the former location (probably a pipe dream, but at least there is a hard core base there that can float the team until they start really winning which every team in every professional sport needs to fill their building - other than marquee teams like the Rangers, etc).
The Nets will also be moving - when you are making the finals and can't sell out your building until the Finals, you have to know its never happening. And Brooklyn is basketball central. What chance does hockey have?
Finally to end the rant, Barclays sucks unless you are in lower level. The upper deck is 7,000 miles from the floor and has no leg room for a normal adult. Please PJ play MSG. I'm going either way, but folks don't play Barclays by choice. They only play it as a tour tag on or bc they can't find a suitable date or don't want to deal with potential playoff reschedules that April and May can bring. Be flexible, and play the "Big Room."
Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
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LETS GO RANGERS!
Barclays move was doomed for failure before the word go. Not only is the arena beyond ill equipped for hockey - beyond the aforementioned poor arena design for hockey, the locker rooms were not big enough, etc, it's f'n Brooklyn. They haven't seen ice skates since the Indians sold their nearby land for beads. Anyone who was sold on Long Islanders trekking there was taken worse than those Indians.
Now they are rebuilding the Coliseum which desperately needed it. So finally back to your point it was a great arena - maybe 30 years ago. Now it was completely outdated and needed a wrecking ball. So, 1 of 2 things will happen within 5 years and neither involve them staying in Brooklyn. The most likely is a move out of the area which was threatened for years (but probably never happened because Charles Wang would never do that while he owned the team). Or a move back to the former location (probably a pipe dream, but at least there is a hard core base there that can float the team until they start really winning which every team in every professional sport needs to fill their building - other than marquee teams like the Rangers, etc).
The Nets will also be moving - when you are making the finals and can't sell out your building until the Finals, you have to know its never happening. And Brooklyn is basketball central. What chance does hockey have?
Finally to end the rant, Barclays sucks unless you are in lower level. The upper deck is 7,000 miles from the floor and has no leg room for a normal adult. Please PJ play MSG. I'm going either way, but folks don't play Barclays by choice. They only play it as a tour tag on or bc they can't find a suitable date or don't want to deal with potential playoff reschedules that April and May can bring. Be flexible, and play the "Big Room."