NHL Hockey Arenas

NHL Hockey Arena Directory:

While Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has its structural and acoustical problems, going to an Islanders game can still be fun. Especially when the Rangers are in the house. There's usually an even mix of fans from both teams, so the back-and-forth discourse in the stands can be a thrill.
But the building is showing its age (it opened in 1972). Many of the seats have obstructions, and the PA system has been compared to a clock radio. The color scheme makes the place look darker than it is. The team has talked about requesting renovations.

ISLANDERS MOVE OUT OF NASSAU COLISEUM
September 17, 1998

Within hours after filing a lawsuit claiming the Nassau Coliseum is unsafe, the NHL New York Islanders moved out of the arena and into offices in Manhattan. Possible temporary homes include Madison Square Garden, Continental Airlines Arena, the First Union Spectrum in Philadelphia and the Civic Center in Hartford, CT. The NHL is helping the team in its search for a venue and is hiring its own engineers to inspect the arena. The first regular season home game is October 10, 1998. Team officials indicated they could play in several of the venues.

The lawsuit says SMG, the company managing the venue, failed to make necessary improvements and that made the venue unsafe. As a result, the team says it was forced to evict itself from the arena. The Islanders hired an outside consultant to inspect the arena.

Among the Islanders' complaints is the main scoreboard hoist system which the team says is a safety risk. The suit says SMG has not responded to requests that it be fixed or replaced. Other issues concern the elevators, roof, rink boards and glass and seats. The suit also says the bathrooms were in such poor shape last season that the team had to bring in portable toilets. The suit asks for the team to be released from its lease and for $10 million in damages.

SMG officials say the safety issues are a smoke screen and that the move is simply a publicity stunt to get out of its lease. Engineers hired by SMG to inspect the arena found no problems, the company says. SMG officials also say they may file suit against the team if it plays outside the arena. Both sides are scheduled to meet today (Thursday) to discuss the situation.

Reports also say that Howard Milstein is considering selling his share of the team because of the conflict with SMG and the arena. Milstein and Gluckstern bought the team earlier this year and said at the time that they hoped to build a new venue. The two have also reportedly reached an impasse in negotiations with the county for a new venue. The county has proposed a $270 million plan that calls for a new arena and retail complex to be built with the cost shared equally among the county, state and team. The New York Post says the team is not willing to invest more than $70 million.

Meanwhile, the Islanders have hired architect Peter Eisenman to design a new arena. Eisenman is also working on a stadium proposal for the Arizona Cardinals and the University of Arkansas. His design for the University drew critical praise in Sunday's New York Times, but some local residents have been put off by its futuristic design.

September 30, 1998 - (Associated Press) The New York Islanders were ordered to play their home games in Nassau Coliseum after a judge ruled the arena was safe to play in. State Supreme Court Judge Burton Joseph granted Nassau County's request for a preliminary injunction preventing the team from playing home games at any location other than the Coliseum.

The team moved out of the arena earlier this month and filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against SMG, which leases the arena from the county, claiming the arena was a danger to fans and players.

The Coliseum is home to not only the Islanders but the New York Saints indoor lacrosse team and many other sports and entertainment events. Adjacent to the arena is a 60,000 square foot Exhibition Hall for trade shows, consumer shows and conventions.

Getting there

From northern New York state, take I-95 to Throgs Neck Expressway; cross Throgs Neck Bridge and go three miles to Long Island Expressway East (I-495); go about seven miles to exit 38; go south to exit 31A, then to exit M4.

From Midtown Manhattan, Take the Long Island Expressway (495) East to Exit 38, Northern State Parkway. Take the NSP to Exit 31A, Meadowbrook Parkway South. Take the MP to Exit M4, Nassau Coliseum/Hempstead Turnpike. The Coliseum will be right in front of you.

From the Throgs Neck Bridge, Take the Clearview Expressway to the Grand Central Parkway East, which turns into the Northern State Parkway. Then take the NSP to Exit 31A, Meadowbrook Parkway South, and follow the above directions from there.

From Eastern Long Island (North Shore), Take theNorthern State Parkway West to Exit 31A, Meadowbrook Parkway South. Follow the above directions from there.

From Eastern Long Island (South Shore), Take Sunrise Highway to Southern State Parkway to exit 22N, Meadowbrook Parkway North. Take Exit M4 and follow signs to the Coliseum.

By train or bus, Take the Long Island Railroad from Manhattan's Penn Station to the Hempstead (L.I.) Train Station, then walk one block to the Hempstead Bus Terminal and take bus N70, N71 or N72.

Memorial Coliseum history

First regular-season game: Oct. 7, 1972, 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Flames
First overtime game: March 10, 1984, 5-4 loss to the Calgary Flames
First Stanley Cup finals game: May 17, 1980, 6-2 over the Philadelphia Flyers
May 17, 1983: A 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers clinches the Islanders' fourth consecutive Stanley Cup
January 21, 1997 - It was Arbour Day in January. The Isles renamed the street in front of Nassau County Coliseum "Al Arbour Way" to honor the 24 years their former coach dedicated to the team in various capacities.

"It's something very, very nice and I certainly appreciate the thoughtfulness of it. Hopefully, there are some Stanley Cups at the end of this road too."