Ratner unveils plans for Nassau Coliseum

From left, Bruce Ratner, the Nassau Coliseum
From left, Bruce Ratner, the Nassau Coliseum

After winning the bid to revamp and manage the Nassau Coliseum, developer Bruce Ratner unveiled his redevelopment plans for the arena in a news conference on Thursday, according to Newsday.

After a long and fierce bidding war between Ratner and the Madison Square Garden Company, Ratner was ultimately chosen as the Coliseum’s developer. Upon being selected, he revealed his plans for a scaled-down, 13,000-seat arena.

Ratner announced that New York Islanders American Hockey League minor league affiliate the Bridgeport Sound Tigers would relocate to the Uniondale arena after the building is renovated. However, the Sound Tigers have a contract to play in Bridgeport, Conn. for the next eight years.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

Ratner also said that it was “highly unlikely” that the Islanders, which are scheduled to move to Ratner’s Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2015, would move from the Coliseum early. Ratner’s plan calls for the Islanders to return to play at the Coliseum for four home games and two preseason games.

Ratner also plans to have professional lacrosse, boxing and Arena Football League games at the arena. Ratner also is negotiating with the Atlantic 10, Big 10 and Pac 10 college basketball divisions to hold tournaments at the new Coliseum. [Newsday] – James Comtois