[Rumour] Islanders and Barclay's center looking to terminate lease agreement after 1 year

[sureLoss]

http://nypost.com/2016/02/19/islande...t-of-brooklyn/

The Islanders’ relationship with Barclays Center has been on such thin ice during the club’s first season in Brooklyn that both sides are secretly exploring ways to cut ties or modify the existing terms of their lease, The Post has learned.

The Islanders were losing roughly $20 million annually playing at the antiquated Nassau Coliseum — their home for 43 years — when owner Charles Wang in 2012 cut a 25-year lease deal with Barclays Center to have the team move there beginning this season. The lease includes a little-known out clause that kicks in after the fourth season that both sides could take advantage of, sources said.

“I don’t think either side ever believed the full lease would be honored,” said a source briefed on the matter. “I just didn’t think we’d be talking about this the first year in.”

Although the Islanders own one of the NHL’s top home records, their fans have been quite sour about the move, complaining about obstructed-view seating, jacked-up ticket prices, the nixing of longtime team traditions and feeling like second-class citizens in a building monopolized by the NBA’s Nets.

Jonathan Ledecky — who heads a group of investors set to replace Wang as the team’s majority owner July 1 — apparently is listening. A source close to the Islanders and other industry sources say he’s enamored with possibly moving the team to Queens or back to Long Island.

Under the lease deal, the Islanders agreed to relinquish control of the business side of operations to get out of the red — a rare setup for any pro sports franchise. Barclays Center agreed to pay the Islanders an average lump sum of $53.5 million annually with the arena making its money off ticket and suite sales, sponsorships and other promotions, sources said.

“The Islander deal was forced from the start because the club was hemorrhaging so much money playing on Long Island … and had to bail,” another source said. “Now you’re left with this weird situation where Barclays’ folks pay the Islanders to play there — but aren’t getting the bang for the buck they desired, not to mention all the crap they’re getting from Islander fans who are finding every little fault they can with being in Brooklyn.

“On the Islanders’ end, they might be better off financially than at Nassau Coliseum. But under the current deal, I think they realize they’ll never be able to have the type of revenue coming in to compete with other big-market teams to sign top players.”

[TheScorpion]

Nas-saw this coming.

[Badgers Nose]

Wow. Sounds mutual though. I thought this was another 'Wang is a bad owner' story.

[codynw]

The arena is terrible for hockey. They never should have moved there in the first place.

[iLoveLamp]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Nas-saw this coming.

boooooooooooooo

[pylon]

Any time I see a car next to the glass at a game, I feel like I'm watching a Div 3 Euro League game between the Kraków Cavalry and the Minsk Tractors. It just looks so bush league on TV.

[JJ1532]

The Barclays Centre is a terrible arena. Went a few weeks back for a Nets game. The design of the roof is awful, loads of exposed jet black steel, makes it really ugly. Then there's that massive gap in the lower bowl.

The whole upper bowl is disjointed, thats poor.

Then the whole arena is black, again, awful.

That building is ugly and horrible, not surprised the Isles don't like it.

[Buck Murdock]

Or as Josh Humphries says... Nassoo

[schooner]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

The Barclays Centre is a terrible arena. Went a few weeks back for a Nets game. The design of the roof is awful, loads of exposed jet black steel, makes it really ugly. Then there's that massive gap in the lower bowl.

The whole upper bowl is disjointed, thats poor.

Then the whole arena is black, again, awful.

That building is ugly and horrible, not surprised the Isles don't like it.

Interesting that you say that. We all knew that it sucks for hockey, but my understanding was that it was a premier venue for basketball.

[Lil Pedro]

I read too that the players were upset that the games are in Brooklyn but their practice facility is still on the Island

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

I read too that the players were upset that the games are in Brooklyn but their practice facility is still on the Island

I heard that isn't much of an issue. I read somewhere the Islanders provide towncars to all their players to take them to Brooklyn on gamedays and take them home.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by schooner

Interesting that you say that. We all knew that it sucks for hockey, but my understanding was that it was a premier venue for basketball.

Nah, didn't like it at all. Like I said, the jet black everywhere is just not a nice colour, the open steel is ugly. Not a fan at all, much preferred MSG weirdly enough.

[flamesfan1297]

So if they get out of the lease, would they go back to the old arena?

[T@T]

Jonathan Ledecky — who heads a group of investors set to replace Wang as the team’s majority owner July 1 — apparently is listening. A source close to the Islanders and other industry sources say he’s enamored with possibly moving the team to Queens or back to Long Island.

Where could they play in Queens?

[schooner]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Nah, didn't like it at all. Like I said, the jet black everywhere is just not a nice colour, the open steel is ugly. Not a fan at all, much preferred MSG weirdly enough.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess its the "industrial" look they are going for.

[Jay Random]

Supposedly the pre-rusted steel is meant to evoke images of Brooklyn's fine old brownstone houses. Instead, it looks more like Detroit after the zombie apocalypse.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by T@T

Where could they play in Queens?

They would have to build something, I believe.

Before they signed the lease in Brooklyn, there was talk of building an arena next to Citi Field, where Shea Stadium used to be.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Supposedly the pre-rusted steel is meant to evoke images of Brooklyn's fine old brownstone houses. Instead, it looks more like Detroit after the zombie apocalypse.

So just normal Detroit then.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

So if they get out of the lease, would they go back to the old arena?

The old arena would need a lot of work to get back to where it was even a year ago.

If the team is looking to get out, Barclays has been an unmitigated disaster.

[taffeyb]

We went to see a Nets game there and loved it. Yes. Everything is shades of grey from the concrete to the roof to the seats. However, the court "popped". Technicolour with respect to the surroundings. After all, the game is the focus. That's all we noticed was the game. Didn't really notice the other fans or empty seats as they faded into the background.