Possible Preseason Game in Brooklyn. Testing Waters for a Move?

B.D. Gallof of CBS New York is reporting that the Islanders are currently in talks with management of the Barclays Center, the future home of the New Jersey Nets, to host a preseason game in the fall of 2012.

According to Gallof, this is not the first time something like this has happened, either. During the 2008-09 season, the Islanders played a preseason game in Kansas City, possibly testing the waters on how much fan support they would actually get if the team moved there.

This does not bode well for the chances of the New York Islanders remaining in Nassau County. In fact, the article goes on to quote current Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

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"It will be a small miracle if they can even get it off the ground and keep the team here," said Mangano. "I really believe the Isles are going to Brooklyn barring divine intervention."

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I can't say it looks good at this point. Just six months ago we were talking about a vote that would get the Islanders a new building. Then we were discussing a possible relocation. Now we are talking about divine intervention?

It was not even a month ago that Mangano was discussing a possible plan of a smaller scale upgrade of the Coliseum that would be privately funded and not cost taxpayers a dime. It was unclear in the plan whether it was a renovation of the current building or a brand new arena.

With talks of testing other venues, it looks bleak. 

A preseason game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn would get mixed reviews. The majority of their fans do not want the Islanders to move. However, I think they would settle for a move to Brooklyn or Queens.

After all, the Long Island Railroad does not travel to Quebec or Kansas City.

I just don't understand this push for a new building. Sure, from the outside the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum looks old and worn down. The inside doesn't look great either. However, when I pay to see an Islanders game, I'm not paying for the architecture. I'm paying for the product on the ice. 

Look at a place like the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It is a beautiful building. However, I paid three times the amount I did for tickets at the Coliseum and I couldn't tell if I was watching the Devils or an ants skate-off. There is really no bad seat at the Coliseum since everywhere you sit is pretty close.

In the end, all Islander fans want is to keep the team in New York. Whatever it takes, Islander fans will sign up for, just as long as they don't have to pay taxes.