New Islanders co-Owner Jon Ledecky yesterday "pledged his support to Brooklyn as the team’s long-term home, but he would not do the same about potentially playing games at the renovated Nassau Coliseum," according to Baumbach & Brodsky of NEWSDAY. The '13 lease between Nassau County and Nassau Events Center (NEC) "included a clause that called for the Islanders to play six games per season at their former home." But Ledecky said, "That deal was between (Forest City Ratner Exec Chair) Bruce Ratner and (former Isles Owner) Charles Wang at the time and now we’re the owners of the Islanders." Ledecky, who took over control on July 1, "stressed that a decision about scheduling games away from Barclays Center would have to be made by" the NHL with "support from his fellow owners." But NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that it is "up to the Islanders to initiate the conversation, and that hasn’t happened yet." Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment Chief Communications Officer & Exec VP Barry Baum, whose company operates Barclays Center, said the entity “will engage in meaningful discussions” with the Isles regarding the six games. If the Isles do not play the six games, the NEC "would owe the county" an additional $1M in annual rent, according to the lease (NEWSDAY, 7/14).
NO CONSTRAINTS? In N.Y., Peter Botte notes Wang "authorized a payroll boost over the past few seasons after several years of manipulating contracts just to reach the salary-cap floor, but the Isles are projected to be nearly" $6M below the $73M salary cap for '16-17. Ledecky: “There are no financial constraints on (Isles GM Garth Snow) and the team. So if we need to be cap-max to compete for a Stanley Cup, we will be cap-max. If there are other places we need to spend money ... there are no constraints." As for Barclays Center, both the arena and the team "have the ability to opt out of their 25-year lease agreement after" the '18-19 season, but neither Ledecky nor arena management "have given any indication of such plans" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/14). Also in N.Y., Allan Kreda notes Ledecky as an owner "vowed to be as hands-on and communicative as possible," and he "insisted more would be done to attract potential fans from the team’s home borough -- plus Manhattan, Queens and Long Island -- to experience a game in Brooklyn." Ledecky: "The Islanders are a full-time focus for me as an owner. There are ways big and small you can move the needle just by being accessible. I want to be someone fans can talk to and tell me what’s wrong" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/14).
