Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is home to one of the NHL's storied franchises: the New York Islanders. [Editor's note: an earlier version of this piece called the Islanders one of the Original Six NHL teams. In fact, the New York Rangers is the organization that can count itself among the Original Six.] Sadly, with its glory days sinking further into the past, this four-time Stanley Cup winning organization is beginning to reflect the building in which it resides.

The arena was built in 1972, making it the oldest arena in the NHL. After having to deal with a small space (it is only able to seat about 16,000 for a hockey game), a leaking roof, and no aesthetic appeal, the organization decided that it was time to build a new arena, a la Pittsburgh’s new Consol Center.

August 1, 2011 was the day that New York Islanders fans the world over were waiting for with bated breath. It was the day that the citizens of Nassau County were to vote on whether or not to spend $400 million to build a new arena.

After months of advertising and attempts at persuading, the New York Islanders were unfortunately unable to garner enough votes in their favor. 

This should come as depressing news to any hockey fan.

No fan would want their team to have to endure playing in such sad conditions.

My question is this: how can we expect a team to excel when they are not being provided an excellent environment?

In recent years, the Islanders’ popularity has been on the decline.

It is such a running joke that Jay Mohr referenced it in his opening monologue at this year’s NHL awards.

The Islanders are unable to sell out games because people are tired of the team not making the playoffs season after season.

As a fan of the sport and of the NHL, it saddens me to see this happening to an historic team that has had amazing players. It also saddens me because this mentality makes it difficult for the men who currently play for the team to wear their jerseys proudly.

I think it was a huge mistake on Nassau County’s part not to vote for a new arena.

I understand that times are tough and they were concerned about their money going towards a sports arena.

However, sometimes in order to improve one has to take a couple steps backwards before finding success. I think it is a domino effect. A new arena would provide the players with an energized environment in which they feel the desire to succeed. Right now, they are playing in squalid conditions and reading daily articles about how “bad” their team is.

A new arena would pump them up and light a fire in their bellies. The fair weather fans would be more obligated to attend games because they’d get to visit a new arena and see a winning team.

With rumors of relocation to Brooklyn, it will be interesting to see what the organization decides to do.

There is not much time before the season starts, so the New York Islanders have their work cutout for them. 

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