New York Islanders: Gary Bettman downplaying the Nassau Coliseum as being an long term

The New York Islanders are watching the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs from their couches after failing to reach the playoffs since the 2013-2014 season. Their future as far as where they are going to be playing is the topic of conversation quite frequently.

Many have known for some time that the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York is contemplating whether they still want to be the home of the Islanders. Since there has been a possibility that the Islanders could be looking for a new home.

There have been Islander fans who are hoping that their team will return to the place they called home for over forty years, the Nassau Coliseum. It has gotten to the point that local politicians are even pushing for the Islanders to come home. However, it seems that the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, is not on the same page as the Islanders fans.

Bettman was recently a guest on Mike Francesca show on WFAN in New York City. To begin with, he had a few comments on the future of the Islanders. The first one was that the Nassau Coliseum is “not a long-term option” for the Islanders. He followed that by saying how the Islanders owner Scott Malkin “didn’t buy the New York Islanders to move them somewhere else. He is committed to this area.”

The New Nassau Coliseum was one of many possible arenas that could be the home to the Islanders. In addition, there has been the talk of possibly the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Additionally, an arena across the street from Citi Field and an arena in Elmont, Queens by the racetrack are in the talks. The arena by Elmont has had the most legs as of late. Thus, there have been reports that the Islanders feel that would be the best spot.

They have this feeling because it would be in the middle of Nassau County and New York City. Therefore, they would not lose any fanbase they had from either the Barclays center or the Nassau Coliseum. It will be interesting to see if the Barclays Center evicts the New York Islanders. As a result, where would their next home be?