ISLANDERS BEGIN TO REBUILD; NEW ARENA IN THE FUTURE?

     Islander ownership is watching with "keen interest" the
Devils' problems in New Jersey, according to Peter Botte in this
morning's N.Y. POST.  Yesterday, Islander CEO Bob Rosenthal said
the team is going to take "prudent, calculated" steps to rebuild
the franchise.  One of which is to "address the Nassau Coliseum
as a facility."  Rosenthal:  "We need either a dramatic
renovation or a new facility to make us competitive for our fans,
for this franchise."  Rosenthal stressed that the team was "not
moving," however, with so many cities "willing to embrace and
invest" in a pro team, they "expect the same" from the county,
Long Island and the state.  Rosenthal said the team has had "good
and ongoing" discussions with Nassau County Exec Thomas Giulotta
about a new building -- either adjacent to the existing Coliseum
or in the Belmont Park area.  But he also noted that "bare-
scratch minimum refurbishments," including renegotiating the
existing lease, are "critical" to being competitive in what
remains for now a three-team market.  If a new building is not
possible Rosenthal believes that, "at the very least," they need
to upgrade their exisiting site by increasing seating capacity,
adding more luxury boxes and improving various amenities (N.Y.
POST, 7/6).