Locals seem open to the idea of the Islanders moving west — as long as it’s just a few miles.
Fans at Citi Field asked yesterday about the report that floated the possibility of the Islanders leaving Nassau Coliseum to become the Mets’ neighbors at a new arena in Queens were receptive, even enthusiastic, about the plan if it helps revitalize the struggling franchise and prevents a move to a more remote destination such as Kansas City.
“I would support them if they move to Queens, but if they leave town, that would be it,” said John Minicucci, a lifelong Islanders fans from Nassau County whose parents have season tickets. “I think Queens would rally around the Islanders.”
His buddy, Todd Steinhaus, who grew up a hearty slap shot away from the Coliseum in West Hempstead and now lives in nearby East Meadow, said he thinks a fresh location could perk up his favorite hockey team.
“The Coliseum is a dump,” he said. “It’s run down, it’s beat-up. I’d love to see them get a new facility. It’s like getting a new shot at life, keeping it relevant and local.”
City residents were keen on the prospect of reducing their travel time to see the Isles and beefing up the boroughs’ sports scene.
“I would go to a lot more games — I haven’t been to a game in years,” said George Kazolas of Jamaica. “We need some fresh blood. I think the Jets should have been on the West Side, the Nets in Brooklyn. It’s awesome. The excitement, that energy would feed out.”
Said non-driving Rangers fan Bruce Reiter of Manhattan, who reasoned that a new hockey arena in Flushing would allow him to take the train to games, “They deserve a new building. I think hockey has a great tradition in the city.”
But not all were gung-ho about the Islanders abandoning their home from the halcyon days.
“The Islanders used to be attached to the community and they lost that,” said Daniel Festa, who grew up in Massapequa and lives in Brooklyn. “I grew up on Long Island in the ’80s when they won four Stanley Cups. It felt really good to have a local team. . . . You would see the same kind of roadblocks here [as the Lighthouse Project has had in Hempstead] when the ball starts rolling.”
Others think the scheme’s reported hatchers — Islanders owner Charles Wang and Mets COO Jeff Wilpon — are no more than drama Queens.
“It’s a bargaining tactic,” James Markotsis said.