Comments for Proceed with Caution at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 2 out of 2 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Sat, 25 May 2013 06:37:47 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/5012-proceed-with-caution#comment-23047 The Nassau replacement that Wang wanted failed miserably, it never really looked like he was going to pull it off, and moving to Brooklyn is now his best option. BUT... Wang shouldve considered this before the building was even planned (even using it as a bargaining chip wouldve been a smart move-albeit I doubt it wouldve worked). Barclay will only seat 14,500 for hockey, which is terribly small for a new arena- if he had been in on it from day1- maybe they couldve configured it to something closer to 17k. So capacity wise, this should be a stop-gap....except he signed a 25yr lease! yikes. So if this doesnt work...he's stuck, and how many NHL teams dont own their own arena nowadays? Most (if not all) got away from paying rent as it wasnt economical, so unless Wang got a sweetheart deal with some outclauses- then this was really short sighted. It may be a step up, but I cant see it being a great scenario for the Isles financially. - Rollie1967 Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:49:40 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/5012-proceed-with-caution#comment-23045 I agree Michael, having lived in both areas I can tell you that Long Island doesn't deserve the team and Brooklyn does. Pundits seeking to fill column inches may try to blame Wang for this but the problem lies in the broken LI political circus that allowed a team to wallow in a run down arena without public transit access for decades. There are plenty of operational and franchise level blame to heap at the feet of Charles Wang but not when it comes to his decision to move to the 718. I may play a hockey expert on dobber, but as a die hard NYer I know what I speaketh of oh brothers. This day should have happened a decade ago if not more. I went to LIC quite a few times over years including back during the "glory" days, in fact my buddies and I met Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier at ice level during a college game and hardly anyone knew who they were (including the players). Its not a hockey culture and despite some amazing Islander teams and the following generation of NHL players who developed in part from those days it does not magically add up to keeping a losing team in a dated building waiting for a broken political system to fix things. I think the whole situation is typified by sad state of the Islanders and those few fans who still kept coming to the games, despite the losing. They deserve a shot at seeing their team in a new building with a better fan base. The die hards will simply ride the LIRR to the games while those who commute home will now have the option of stopping over in the 718 for a pro hockey game. Its a win win move and now Long Island can get on with the issue of how to spend their hard earned tax dollars without having to table the flawed new stadium plan. Brooklyn can support a franchise and if they turn the corner while there it could be the makings of a return to the great rivalry that was Rangers v Islanders which has been sorely missed at MSG for 20 years. Now if only the Devils would move to Ontario, Quebec or Seattle things would be really great - donpaulo Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:06:40 +0100