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New York Islanders In Negotiations With Barclays Center

Oct 12, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) skates with the puck while fans look on before the start of their game against the Winnipeg Jets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) skates with the puck while fans look on before the start of their game against the Winnipeg Jets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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What are the odds? That the New York Islanders are in negotiations with the Barclays Center for a short-term agreement? Who actually didn’t think this was going to happen?

Remember a few weeks ago when Bloomberg out this incredibly dramatic article about the New York Islanders stance with the Barclays Center? Its title went like so: “Barclays Center is Dumping the Islanders“? It was far from the truth then and even further today.

I bet the article got a ton of attention based on the title. I know I clicked on it a few times. But the title made it seem like the Islanders were going to be tossed out immediately. When in fact, the article simply said that Barclays Center found that the Islanders wouldn’t be profitable as a tenant passed the 2018-19 season.

And then last night, Sportsnet’s Nik Kypreos tells the world that the New York Islanders and the Barclays Center are negotiating a short-term agreement. (Fast-Forward to 3:50 of the video for the Isles part).

A More Advantageous Deal

Kypreos doesn’t give any details on what the two are working on aside from a temporary deal that would ensure the Islanders don’t go without a home like the Bloomberg post suggested.

Barclays Update: Barclays and Isles Just Jockeying for Position

Making the Islanders homeless was in neither parties interests. But both sides wanted concessions from the other. The Islanders wanted the arena to have a fan friendly experience and the Barclays Center wanted to cut the annual payment they make to the Isles to be cut.

Which makes more sense when you consider that Bloomberg article from a month ago. The Islanders would be profitable in two years time. Cutting that reported $50 million annual payment for the next 23 years would certainly reduce that financial burden on Barclays.

Next: Scott Darling Would be a Good Free Agent for Isles

This doesn’t mean that the Islanders will stay at the Barclays Center long term. This just means that both sides are going to make sure they have a deal that suits their interest better. For Barclays its cutting their costs and for the Islanders it’s giving them a deal that can benefit the fans while also serving as a bridge to getting their own hockey first barn in the next few years.

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