[News] Islanders announce move to Brooklyn in 2015

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

They signed a 25 year lease.

Is it optimal for hockey? No, but the building and amenities are wonderful, apparently, plus it's no longer in the middle of nowhere. The islanders will be far more successful there than where that are now.

Why not get that in a better venue with more seating along to go with it? I'm sure the owner will be willing to pay the opt-out fee if it's worthwhile.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Why not get that in a better venue with more seating along to go with it? I'm sure the owner will be willing to pay the opt-out fee if it's worthwhile.

How cheap do you think it would be to build a rink in the Brooklyn area? Just finding a suitable location would be hard enough And that land would not be cheap. Why you would do that for maybe an extra 4000 seats a game? It probably doesn't make financial sense.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

How cheap do you think it would be to build a rink in the Brooklyn area? Just finding a suitable location would be hard enough And that land would not be cheap. Why you would do that for maybe an extra 4000 seats a game? It probably doesn't make financial sense.

There's virtually no chance of another arena being built in Brooklyn in the next 30 years. I assume Jobo is referring to a new arena back out in Nassau County, which I suppose could happen but would require some unexpected changes as it would essentially mean the re emergence of something like the Lighthouse project. I would expect that something will be worked out to make things better for hockey viewing, but it will likely always be a less than perfect setup.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by valo403

There's virtually no chance of another arena being built in Brooklyn in the next 30 years. I assume Jobo is referring to a new arena back out in Nassau County, which I suppose could happen but would require some unexpected changes as it would essentially mean the re emergence of something like the Lighthouse project. I would expect that something will be worked out to make things better for hockey viewing, but it will likely always be a less than perfect setup.

This is what I meant. I figure it would be better to build a venue that's proper for hockey therefore you can maximize revenue since although it's only 4000 extra seats, it's 4000 extra prime seats that you charge at a good cost. Right now they're going to miss out out that, and also have probably cheapen the costs of some of the seats due to how mediocre some of the seats are in the lower bowl and middle bowl at the cut off side.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Joborule

This is what I meant. I figure it would be better to build a venue that's proper for hockey therefore you can maximize revenue since although it's only 4000 extra seats, it's 4000 extra prime seats that you charge at a good cost. Right now they're going to miss out out that, and also have probably cheapen the costs of some of the seats due to how mediocre some of the seats are in the lower bowl and middle bowl at the cut off side.

I think it's going to be a bit of a wait and see situation in some respects, but I don't see a new arena in Nassau county being likely anytime soon. That was tried for years to no avail and nothing indicates that things will be changing. If the Islanders in Brooklyn fails the team is probably on its way to Kansas City or Quebec City (if they don't already have a team by then).

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by valo403

I think it's going to be a bit of a wait and see situation in some respects, but I don't see a new arena in Nassau county being likely anytime soon. That was tried for years to no avail and nothing indicates that things will be changing. If the Islanders in Brooklyn fails the team is probably on its way to Kansas City or Quebec City (if they don't already have a team by then).

With the broadcast, sponsorship and luxury box money they'll get by being in Brooklyn there's not much chance the team will fail. So what if the seating is a lot less than optimal? It's not going to significantly affect attendance.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

With the broadcast, sponsorship and luxury box money they'll get by being in Brooklyn there's not much chance the team will fail. So what if the seating is a lot less than optimal? It's not going to significantly affect attendance.

The broadcast money is no different than it is now. I'm not sure what you mean by sponsorship money, if you're talking about advertisements etc. then I doubt that changes much either as the number of eyeballs viewing them probably won't be that different. We'll see about luxury boxes, the Barclays Center is great and will definitely be a boost over Nassau, but it's still a bit of an unproven area. If the team continues to be run in the generally poor fashion that it has been for the last 2 decades there's a very real possibility that it fails, moving to Brooklyn is not a cure all.

[sureLoss]

Apparently the Islanders aren't even selling seats in the majority of the attack end?

[normtwofinger]

So how big would a sellout crowd be? That graphic above is ridiculous.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

So how big would a sellout crowd be? That graphic above is ridiculous.

A sellout crowd is supposed to be 14,500 for hockey, but an eyeball estimate tells me that about 1,000 of those seats are in the 'Limited View' (grey) sections. Can't imagine those selling out, even at $14.50 a ticket, except possibly for playoff games.

I suppose the team will get more money out of 13,500 seats in a modern building than it would out of 16,170 seats in the Nassau Roach Motel. But it sure doesn't leave them any room to grow.

This, by the way, is from the Barclays Center website:

Standards run high in Brooklyn. Good thing, because Barclays Center continues to raise the bar.

I believe this claim is what is known in showbiz as 'a laugh a minute'.

(The outside of the building is hideous, too. File under, 'The 1970s called. They want their earth tones back.')

[TurdFerguson]

looks like a concert setup to me. amazing that a pro sports team would leave a cohesive (top to bottom) 20% of its arena block unfilled. Breaking out of the dead zone would be like walking out the tunnel and into the arena.

[WilderPegasus]

One thing they could do rather easily is put in a scoreboard that people can view from those seat that aren't being sold and have them watch the game on the scoreboard if the existing scoreboard isn't capable of it.

Lots of teams open up their buildings during the playoffs for fans to watch road games on the scoreboard and a big part of going to the games is the atmosphere. Today's HD scoreboards make it like watching from home.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by TurdFerguson

looks like a concert setup to me.

Bingo! You've got a good eye.

I took a look at the seating chart for concerts at the Barclays Center. It's virtually the same, except, of course, for the several thousand seats on the floor where the ice would be. The stage goes in the same block of retractable seats where they put the Islanders' attacking zone.

Basically it's the same layout as the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Strictly bush league.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

One thing they could do rather easily is put in a scoreboard that people can view from those seat that aren't being sold and have them watch the game on the scoreboard if the existing scoreboard isn't capable of it.

Lots of teams open up their buildings during the playoffs for fans to watch road games on the scoreboard and a big part of going to the games is the atmosphere. Today's HD scoreboards make it like watching from home.

Problem with that is I'm sure it would affect the other goaltenders vision, so it would probably never get the green light from the league. What a disaster that would be if a third of the arena isn't available.

[CaptainSunshin3]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

(The outside of the building is hideous, too. File under, 'The 1970s called. They want their earth tones back.')

It is a beautiful arena, inside and outside. Easy to sit behind a computer and google some images and judge it, try heading out to BK and attending an event....

[Dx54]

That seating arrangement looks terrible.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Apparently the Islanders aren't even selling seats in the majority of the attack end?

It looks like BC is emulating Seattle's Key Arena 1995 reno hockey setup...save for the black curtains I assume:

Spoiler!

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by CaptainSunshin3

It is a beautiful arena, inside and outside. Easy to sit behind a computer and google some images and judge it, try heading out to BK and attending an event....

Well, here's a comment I took down verbatim today, from a friend of mine who worked for many years as an engineer in the NYC construction business, and has seen the arena firsthand:

It's ahead of its time. Most structures in New York, especially in that neighborhood, take much longer to look like they're rusted out and ready to fall down.

From what I have read on the subject, your opinion is, shall we say, an outlier.

[Brannigans Law]

I knew that it was going to be somewhat stupid looking when I read about this move and the configuration, but with the actual images coming in it looks ridiculous. 25 years of that is embarrasing. I don't care how nice the arena is.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

A sellout crowd is supposed to be 14,500 for hockey, but an eyeball estimate tells me that about 1,000 of those seats are in the 'Limited View' (grey) sections. Can't imagine those selling out, even at $14.50 a ticket, except possibly for playoff games.

I suppose the team will get more money out of 13,500 seats in a modern building than it would out of 16,170 seats in the Nassau Roach Motel. But it sure doesn't leave them any room to grow.

This, by the way, is from the Barclays Center website:



I believe this claim is what is known in showbiz as 'a laugh a minute'.

(The outside of the building is hideous, too. File under, 'The 1970s called. They want their earth tones back.')

Huh? Have you actually seen the building?