Wang Exploring Other Options For Islanders, Lighthouse Project
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Wang Has Said He Will Begin Taking Phone
Calls From Others Interested In Islanders |
Islanders Owner Charles Wang said that he will "begin to explore other options" for the team and the proposed Lighthouse development after his deadline for "seeing significant progress" on the project passed Saturday, according to Eden Laikin of NEWSDAY. Wang Saturday during a press conference said that he "would begin taking phone calls from others interested in the team" or his $3.8B Lighthouse project. Wang: "Anything is open." Sources said that Wang has "received as many as eight offers from locations in and outside of New York State interested in becoming the Islanders' new home." The team's lease with Nassau Coliseum "requires them to play all home games at the Coliseum until 2015." Wang said that he has "not ruled out leaving the Island." Wang: "I'm upset, discouraged, disappointed, some would say I'm disgusted that they continue to play games this way" (NEWSDAY, 10/4). On Long Island, Jim Baumbach noted Wang "did not give specifics about exploring his options," but he said that for the "first time he can envision an Islanders future that does not include home games in Nassau County." Wang "no longer is going on record as saying he thinks the Lighthouse will happen." He said that there is "enough time in the day to focus on outside interest in the Islanders and the ongoing developments of the Lighthouse, declining to prioritize one over the other" (NEWSDAY, 10/4). In N.Y., Dan Martin wrote the Islanders' "off-ice issues took away from" rookie C John Tavares' first game, which was played at a "sold-out Nassau Coliseum" against the Penguins Saturday. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wang "has to consider his options." Bettman: "If it's not going to happen, let's get it over with" (N.Y. POST, 10/4).
NEW IGLOO: In Pittsburgh, Shelly Anderson noted Bettman Friday was in town for the Penguins' season-opener against the Rangers, and he "took a tour of the construction site" at the team's new Consol Energy Center, which is scheduled to open next year. Bettman said the new arena is "going to be spectacular." Bettman: "What I liked about it is it's big but intimate. You can go to the last row of seating in the upper deck and look down and you've got a great view of the ice. It looks like it's going to be comfortable. The concourses are wide. This is a state-of-the-art, first-class building" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/3).
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