Nassau County exec Thomas Gulotta is "considering
condemning" SMG's lease on the Nassau Coliseum, which "could
hasten" the sale of the Islanders to a group headed by
former MSG President Bob Gutkowski and CAK Universal Credit
Chair Charles Koppelman, according to Barry Baum of the N.Y.
POST, who reports that Gulotta "asked" a representative of
Islanders co-Owners Edward and Howard Milstein if they
"would reimburse the county for the costs ... in condemning
the lease." Baum writes that the cost "would be determined
by a judge" and could "take two-to-three years to conclude,"
but SMG "would immediately be out of the Coliseum picture,
lifting any barriers" to Gutkowski purchasing the Islanders.
Baum adds that by condemning the lease -- which is "due to
expire" in 2015 -- Gulotta "would be terminating SMG's reign
as the manager" of Nassau Coliseum. The "condemnation would
also include the entire" 70-acre Coliseum site. Baum: "If
Gulotta chooses to condemn the lease, the county would turn
its back on SMG's recently proposed offer to build a sports
and entertainment complex" (N.Y. POST, 2/18).