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New York Islanders Staying on Long Island

By Diana Driscoll

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Let me start off by saying the Barclays Center will be the New York Islanders home next season. The Islanders are not going to be playing regular-season games on Long Island, but the team will continue to represent its home by having its practice center at Cantiague Park in Nassau County.

According to Newsday:

"Nassau County lawmakers Monday night approved an agreement with the New York Islanders that calls for the team to invest $5.1 million to turn part of Cantiague Park in Hicksville into practice and office space.The county legislature’s Rules Committee voted unanimously to authorize a permit agreement between Nassau and the Islanders — which County Executive Edward Mangano has said will ensure that the Brooklyn-bound team retains its ties to Long Island.The Islanders, who played their last game at the Nassau Coliseum in April, must hold regular open practices and autograph sessions at the park’s renovated, expanded skating rink, according to the deal."

Many Islanders fans may not see this as that big of a deal, since they will now have to take the train(s) to the game, but it is a great way for the team to stay involved with the community that has been so welcoming and dedicated over the years. It’s also a great way for fans, who may not get into Brooklyn as often to cheer on their favorite team, to interact with players and still retain ties with their beloved Islanders.

As the new facility will only be 5.8 miles away from the Islanders’ previous home of Nassau Coliseum, fans will not have to go out of their way to get a glimpse at their favorite team. Long-time fans of the Islanders, those who rooted for the team any time between  from 1979 to 1992, may already be familiar with the rink as the Islanders used to hold practices there.

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I understand that the Islanders move to Brooklyn has and continues to hit people hard. They are going to miss the atmosphere, the history and just the Barn in general. But now, although it may not measure up to having the team’s home in Uniondale, fans can still create memories with their families with the Islanders on Long Island.

While county executives joked that they hoped this facility would lure the Islanders back permanently, we all know that isn’t going to happen. But for now, the Islanders and county executives are hoping that this move shows the team is not deserting its fans or the community; its commitment to Long Island is still intact.

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