Islanders: Nassau Coliseum capacity increase for Stanley Cup playoffs

Just in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs, capacity at the New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum, and all other large indoor arena’s in New York state will see their capacity limits increased from 10% to 25%.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement on Monday. This new capacity increase is effective as of May 19, a month from today.

The Islanders final regular-season game for 2021 is scheduled for May 10 (on the road against the Boston Bruins). This new capacity increase can be just in time for the Islanders push for a Stanley Cup this spring.

Huge increase in capacity incoming for New York Islanders

Of course, there are issues with the way the Isles are playing at the moment. Some of you might even toss a Jim Mora link at me for making the suggestion of playoff hockey, but the Isles are still a playoff team and I expect them to make it when the season is all said and done.

We still don’t know when the playoffs will begin. In February we were told the regular season would end on May 8 and that the post-season would begin shortly afterward on May 11. But with a number of COVID delays during the season, that will obviously change.

As it stands, the Vancouver Canucks regular season has been extended at least until May 13 and could go till May 19. Add a couple of days between the final day of the regular season and the start of the playoffs (usually it’s three days) and this increase could be right on time for the Isles.

This increase to 25% is no small deal for the Islanders. We all know the power a full Nassau Coliseum has on the players. Of course, 25% is by no means full by it’s a full 150% increase from what the team is currently allowed to have in the stands. Capacity will jump from 1,400 fans to 3,400 fans.

Those extra 2,000 fans will be vital for the Isles in the post-season, there no doubt about it.