It is uncertain how many Islanders games Nassau Coliseum will host after this year GETTY IMAGES
Attendance figures for the Islanders this season "reflect the fans' preference" for Nassau Coliseum over Barclays Center, with the team averaging 13,568 with four sellouts of 13,917 in the last seven games at the Coliseum, according to Vin Cherwoo of the AP. The Islanders have averaged 10,788 with "no sellouts" at Barclays, which has a capacity of 15,795. Overall, the Islanders are "last among the 31 NHL teams with an average attendance of 11,599." Islanders coach Barry Trotz has "raved about the Coliseum as one of the old-style arenas that puts fans closer to the ice and helps energize the home team." The team's arrangement calls for the two arenas to "evenly split the games for three years." This season, the Coliseum is getting 21, with Barclays getting 20. It is "uncertain what the breakdown will be in ensuing years." BSE Global, which operates both arenas, "shares the fans' desires to have the team play all its games at the Coliseum." The NHL "opposed the Islanders' full return to the Coliseum, due mainly to it having a smaller capacity than every other arena in the league, but acquiesced to the split arrangement." The Islanders played their first 11 home games this season at Barclays, then began an 18-game stretch on Dec. 1 in which they are splitting games between the venues, before closing their home schedule with the final 12 at the Coliseum. It has "not been announced how any playoff games will be handled" (AP, 1/30).
