Nassau Coliseum Gets State Funding To Make Arena NHL-Compliant

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment was awarded a $6M state grant to help fund an $8.5M project to bring Nassau Coliseum "into NHL compliance" for Islanders games, according to Jim Baumbach of NEWSDAY. The Islanders will provide the remaining $2.5M to upgrade their former arena as they proceed toward the opening of their new arena at Belmont Park, which is "expected to occur no earlier" than '21. BS&E, which operates both the Coliseum and Barclays Center, said that the Coliseum work will be "completed by October so the Islanders can split their schedule during the next three seasons between both arenas." The Coliseum project includes $2.2M "for installation of video-cable infrastructure and related NHL equipment," and $2M to "renovate the 'existing team campus,'" including the locker room. The county-owned arena reopened last year after an 18-month, $165M renovation, during which the seating capacity was "reduced to 13,900 from more than 16,000" (NEWSDAY, 3/30).