While Barclays Center has faced a barrage of criticism and negative press for the inclusion of limited-view seats in its configuration for Islanders games, some of the team’s most dedicated fans have taken to the unorthodox setup.
The Blue and Orange Army, an unofficial Islanders supporters group, has made its home in parts of sections 228 and 229, where more than 100 members have season tickets, which according to organizer James Fesselmeyer cost about $15 a game. He said up to 100 more might buy discounted tickets for big games through the group, which has a dedicated link online through the arena.
Unlike some of the arena’s limited-view seats, both goals are visible to the group. The near corner of the rink isn’t, but Fesselmeyer said the members decided it is worth it to get a price cut on their seats.
He added, “If the puck goes into that tiny little corner, it’s there for a short maybe two seconds. It’s almost like a natural reaction now. I just look up to the Jumbotron for a split second and just look back down to the ice.”
Barclays Center declined to comment on the limited-view seats. Those seats number about 1,500, according to reports, but a check of a Ticketmaster seating map for an Islanders game produced a total of more than 2,500 seats lableled limited view.
Barclays Center management has come under fire from Islanders fans this season for everything from seating to scrapping old traditions, and while Fesselmeyer said things haven’t been perfect, he credited Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark and his staff for accommodating the group. Thanks to permission from the arena, for example, the beat of the group’s drum can be heard throughout the arena and has quickly become a unique part of attending an Islanders game.
Fesselmeyer said, “It’s a cool thing they played a part in making it a better time for us.”
Alex Silverman writes for sister publication SportsBusiness Daily.
