Bettman cited concerns over the Coliseum's ability to host major events such as playoff gamesgetty images
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman did "not promise more Islanders playoff games at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum this spring, but he did not rule it out, either," according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. During an interview Friday on WFAN, Bettman said he will "not yet" promise that every postseason game would be at the Coliseum. The team has split games this season between the Coliseum and Barclays Center, and on the challenges of playing at the Coliseum, Bettman said, "Nassau Coliseum is not a major-league facility, and it shouldn't take you an hour to go to the bathroom." Bettman: "If the Islanders continue to build the way they have and go into the second (round), third and even the Stanley Cup Final, we're going to have to figure out the logistics of what makes sense, because it's difficult to host your major events, as the playoffs are for us, in a non-major-league-facility." Meanwhile, Bettman said the Islanders' Belmont Park Arena is "going to be great" with its "great location." He also said it was a "good thing" Barclays Center was there, "because Nassau Coliseum, before they freshened it up a little bit, was not capable of continuing to host the Islanders anymore." Bettman: "But the Islanders belong out on the Island" (NEWSDAY, 1/4).
