Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

New York Nets (ABA, 1971-1977 ) New York Islanders (NHL, 1972 ) New York Arrows ( MISL, from 1978 to 1984 ) New York Express ( MISL, 1986-1987) New York Dragons (AFL, 1991 ) New York Saints ( NLL, 1998-2001) New York Titans ( NLL since 2007) Long Iceland Jawz (RHI, 1996)

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (also known as Nassau Coliseum or simply The Coliseum ), is a covered multi-purpose arena in Uniondale, New York, on the island of Long Iceland. The Coliseum is located approximately 30 miles from New York City. It is home to the New York Islanders ( National Hockey League) and the New York Dragons (Arena Football League).

The Coliseum comprises 255,000 m² of Mitchel Field, which was a site of the U.S. Army and Air Force earlier.

Use

The New York Raiders, which constitute the flagship of the World Hockey Association, should initially deliver their home games in the new arena. The Nassau County, however, it is not considered to settle a WHA team there and wanted to have nothing to do with the Raiders. Nassau County hereby authorize William Shea order to accommodate an NHL team at the Coliseum. The NHL hastily placed a franchise on Long Iceland; the New York Islanders. This had the consequence that the Raiders at Madison Square Garden found her home in the shadow of the New York Rangers.

The Coliseum was also the home arena of the New York Saints ( National Lacrosse League) and played there from 1998 to 2003. The Saints launched in 2004 a game operation. Earlier also, the New York Arrows and later the New York Express played from the Major Indoor Soccer League here. Before that, ie from 1972 to 1977, the Coliseum was also home to the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association, which later also played in the National Basketball Association. It also first-and second-round games of the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association were held there.

The Coliseum is also used for concerts and other types of shows as well as for large sales events. Billy Joel, who was born on Long Iceland, is one of the most common tenant. He usually organizes several appearances when he is on tour. Mid-90s, hung for a time his own number next to the heroes of the Islanders under the roof of the Coliseum, which should represent its numerous sold-out concerts.

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum was opened in 1972. First Minor League games were held under the roof until the Islanders franchise long term renters was. 2005, there were again minor league games held there. The team of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League where he played two "home games". This happened during the lockout. The original capacity of the Coliseum varied 12000-15000 depending on the event. In the early 80s, the maximum capacity was increased to 18,000. Currently at 16,234 hockey games, concerts and 17,760 for boxing and wrestling events are 17,686 spectators.

Rehabilitation

The Coliseum is currently one of the oldest arenas in which NHL games take place and is considered obsolete. Aware sat down in 2004, some officials together to develop and implement, so that a new construction of a new arena would be unnecessary, a restoration plan. The heart of the project includes a tower which has the appearance of a lighthouse. Other plans include also create new residential accommodation and other sports facilities and a hotel. The estimated cost is around 200 million U.S. dollars.

Local complaints and took place in the 2004/ 05 NHL lockout meant that little progress has been made in the planning stage. So it happened that the Islanders now deliberate to let build a new arena in neighboring Suffolk County. From 2015, the NHL team New York Islanders will host its home games in the Barclays Center.

Others

• The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum was the venue of the first part of World Wrestling Federation 's WrestleMania 2 in 1986. The SummerSlam 2002 and the Great American Bash 2008 was hosted there.
• During the series of four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships of the New York Islanders in the early 80s the Nassau Coliseum from fans was called " Never Lose Fort " as proud.
• For several years, the arena of " feuding " fan groups is also referred to as " Nassau Mausoleum ".
• While city duels between the Islanders and the Rangers, who play in the same conference and division, the arena is often called the "Garden East " because Rangers fans usually account for up to 50 % of the audience.
• Another nickname of the arena is " Bust Palace " was in 1972 by Alex Bennett, an entertainer created. This happened due to the many arrests by drug offenses during rock concerts that took place in the arena.