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May 4, 2009
Gary Bettman: Coliseum 'unrealistic' for Isles
NY Newsday
Hey, Atlantic Yards isn't the only misbegotten mega-plan mired in its own excess!
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman went to bat for the NY Islanders' owner, Charles Wang, who is seeking approval for his mixed-use Hempstead megaproject that is to include a convention center, the tallest skyscraper on "The Island," a shopper's paradise and a new arena.
NoLandGrab: These days, sports team owners not only want a new venue (citizens are no longer willing to foot the entire bill), so the owners are seeking the entire high-density mixed-use real estate boondoggle. If not for their limitless ambition, Wang could have already had his approval for a new arena to replace the one that everyone agrees is begining to look like THE Coliseum, and NJ Nets owner Bruce Ratner might have had shovels in the ground in Brooklyn.
Despite supporting Wang's unwelcome megaproject, Bettman went on to state the obvious; the brand-new Newark Prudential Center is already open while the Nets are still languishing in the Meadowlands:
Bettman also was asked about the possibility of the NBA's New Jersey Nets moving from the Izod Center at the Meadowlands to join the Devils at the Prudential Center in downtown Newark. NBA commissioner David Stern told APSE the Nets are fine where they are, but Bettman had a different view.
"I don't understand why the Nets aren't playing at Prudential Center now," the NHL commissioner said. "The Devils are drawing, and the atmosphere is great. It has to be costing the State of New Jersey a boatload of money to keep [Izod Center] open. I hope, at some point, the Nets decide to go there."
Posted by lumi at May 4, 2009 5:50 AM