Mets owners reportedly have started discussions with a real estate firm to build an arena in Queens that would house the Islanders, according to FanHouse.com.
The firm Jones Lang LaSalle is responsible for the upcoming renovation of Madison Square Garden and has begun planning an Islanders arena located at Willets Point, the area surrounding Citi Field, the report says.
“This is beyond the preliminary stage,” a source told the website. “You don’t bring in a big hitter like JLL unless you’re serious. This tells me the Islanders and Mets have made progress in a partnership to take the hockey team to Queens.
“If Charles Wang and Nassau can’t cut a deal, this will be a great option.”
Efforts by FanHouse to obtain comment from Jones Lang LaSalle were unsuccessful. Another published report contained denial of the plans.
The Mets said on May 12 they had talked to the Islanders about the possibility of building an arena that could be the new home to the NHL team, which has said for years that it is in desperate need of a replacement for Nassau Coliseum.
“We’ve had discussions with the Islanders, in addition to those we’ve had with Major League Soccer, about building a sports/entertainment facility near Citi Field,” the Mets said then in a statement released by the team.
Islanders owner Charles Wang had been silent since his plans for a renovated Nassau Coliseum as part of his proposed massive Lighthouse development project on Long Island stalled. Wang has been unable to get approval from the Town of Hempstead to begin the project. The town would like to scale down the scope of the project.
Wang and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman repeatedly have said the team cannot continue to play at the Coliseum because of the amount of money the franchise loses while playing there.