Nassau County Says Islanders, SMG Owe Millions In Unpaid Rent, Utilities At Coliseum

The Islanders and Nassau Coliseum's management company, SMG, "owe Nassau County as much as $3.8 million in unpaid rent, utilities and other expenses for the Coliseum dating back to at least 2011," according to documents cited by Randi Marshall of NEWSDAY. Documents show that the county has written to Islanders Senior VP Michael Picker "seeking payment of the monies twice in the past 12 months -- in February 2012 and on Feb. 22 of this year." The unpaid bills "include $607,502 in rent and more than $2.4 million in electric bills." In addition, the Islanders and SMG have "not yet paid the county its share of concessions and parking revenue." The letter by Nassau County Office of Real Estate Services Acting Dir Michael Kelly states that the county "may owe the Islanders and SMG for repairs the team has made" to Nassau Coliseum. But the letter to Picker said that the "debts outpace anything the county might owe by at least $2 million." Kelly wrote, "We expect that the Islanders will be responsive to our request. If the Islanders do not respond or do not pay, the county will review its options and take action as it deems necessary." Kelly "did not specify what such action would include." The county owns Nassau Coliseum and "leases it to SMG, which in turn holds a sublease with the Islanders." While the county's correspondence "regarding the unpaid bills has been entirely with Picker," county Comptroller George Maragos "noted that 'the prime agreement' is with SMG, which manages the day-to-day operations of the arena." Below is the list of the unpaid expenses owed by SMG and the Islanders (NEWSDAY, 3/3).

UNPAID INVOICES ('11-12)	AMOUNT
Rent:	$607,502
Water:	$1,114,688
Electric:	$2,411,042
Parking:	$657,128
Concessions:	$439,996
TOTAL	$5,230,356