On Aug. 1, 2011, Nassau County voted on an arena referendum, which would have given the New York Islanders a new state-of-the-art home in Uniondale.
However, the majority voted no.
The effects of the vote were quite frankily terrible for the franchise.
Already viewed as a Mickey Mouse club, the Islanders were running out of time to find a new home, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said that the Nassau Coliseum was no longer good enough to host NHL games.
That led to rumors about the potential relocation to Kansas City, a terrifying yet realistic option.
The Islanders ended up remaining at The Coliseum until the 2015-16 season before moving to Barclays Center in Brooklyn—an arena not made for hockey.
Outside of the scoreboard not being centered, it was a trek for most Islanders fans, with many deciding not to go.
Fans needed two to transfer trains with little to no leeway in the train schedule.
There was obstructed seating left and right, and it just wasn’t fun for an already struggling franchise.
While the fans weren’t pleased, neither were the players.
Outside of having to get to Brooklyn, one player told The Hockey News that the ice was absolutely terrible — a likely shared opinion.
When John Tavares left the Islanders following the 2017-18 season —New York was splitting home games at Nassau Coliseum and Barclay’s as Barclay’s was losing money — he shared that the uncertainty of a home arena played a part.
The Islanders ultimately got what they wanted when UBS Arena opened in Belmont in Nov. of 2021.
Related: BREAKING: Islanders To Host 2026 NHL All-Star Game At UBS Arena
The new facility is beautiful inside and out, providing Islanders fans with a true home after years of uncertainty.
Owner Scott Malkin is working heavily on developing the surrounding area, first creating The Park, with the focus now on finishing the construction of the village, where there will be hotels, shops, and more, The Lighthouse Projected 2.0.
Related: EXCLUSIVE: Islanders Legends Butch Goring & Bryan Trottier Loving ‘The Park’ At UBS Arena
However, it’s not Uniondale.
It’s not the place where the Islanders called home for 42 years, where they won four straight Stanley Cups.
It’s not an easy commute, even with the train lines being opened.
But it is a home, one that kept the Islanders on Long Island, which is the most important thing.
Might be an isles hot take, but can we stop rehashing the 8/1 thing from 13 years ago? I loved the coliseum for what it was, but they’re currently in a beautiful new arena. It all worked out for the best.
— Pizza Sports Guy (@PizzaSportsGuy) August 1, 2024
Unfortunately for The Coliseum, it’s become a sleeping venue, but it looks like it could be awakened soon.
The Las Vegas Sands and Nassau County have agreed to a 42-year lease of The Coliseum and the land, and it’s likely that The Lighthouse Project will become a thing — just not involving the Islanders.
Related: Nassau County Approves 42-Year Lease Of Former Islanders Home, Nassau Coliseum, To Las Vegas Sands
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