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Bloomberg Welcomes The Islanders To Brooklyn, "The Place Where Everyone Wants To Be"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 24, 2012
Modified Oct 24, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 24, 2012
Modified Oct 24, 2012
Share
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Mayor Bloomberg, Barclays Center head honcho Bruce Ratner, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Brooklyn BP Marty Markowitz were all on hand to welcome yet another sports franchise, the Islanders, to their new home at Barclays Center in Brooklyn this afternoon. “More than ever before, Brooklyn is the place where everyone wants to be,” Bloomberg said. Markowitz heartily agreed: "Watch out! Brooklyn's ice man cometh."
“When I first campaigned for Borough President, I made the promise that I would bring a major-league sports team to Brooklyn," Markowitz added. "But never, in my wildest dreams, did I think we would be home to both the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Islanders. With the Nets and the Islanders, Brooklyn is beginning a dominant power-play.” According to Islanders owner Charles B. Wang, the name will stay the Islanders, and not include a "Brooklyn" modifier.
"It was our goal from day one to keep the Islanders in the local New York area." said Wang. "We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play in Barclays Center, a first class arena." The team has a 25 year lease with Barclays Center starting with the 2015/2016 season, so hockey fans ought get used to the slightly more "intimate" surroundings. Barclays Center will hold 14,500 seats for Islander games, making it the smallest fan capacity in the league. And if we're lucky, hockey will be back by then! At least we can be happy knowing this is LITERALLY "the greatest move in the world."
Additional reporting by Samantha Shokin
Tagged
barclays center
bloomberg
brooklyn
hockey
islanders
nhl
sports
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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