Home is where the judge says
Restraining order keeps Islanders at Nassau Coliseum
Posted: Thursday September 17, 1998 08:23 PM
MINEOLA, New York (AP) -- A judge has barred the New York Islanders from
playing any hockey games outside the Nassau Coliseum until a hearing can be
held over the team's refusal to play at the arena because of allegations it
is unsafe.
State Supreme Court Judge Burton Joseph issued the order Thursday at
the request of Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta after talks between
team owners and county officials broke down. The order prevents the team
from playing exhibition and regular-season games anywhere other than the
coliseum.
"The New York Islanders management are holding a gun to the head of Long
Island hockey fans ... and we will not let that happen," said David Veiser,
Gulotta's spokesman.
Islanders spokesman Gary Lewi said the issue was the safety of the
fans.
"I think they would be ... upset if we couldn't guarantee their safety,"
he said. "We want a safe arena to play in that is convenient to play in."
The Islanders say the Coliseum is falling apart, citing an engineering
report showing the hoist system for the scoreboard is unsafe.
Joseph scheduled a hearing for Wednesday and issued a temporary
restraining order barring the team from playing until he can hear arguments
from both sides. Earlier this month, the Islanders filed a federal lawsuit
against SMG, the Philadelphia company that manages the Coliseum, saying the
arena was unsafe.
The NHL team is seeking at least $10 million in damages and a release
from its lease. The team also closed its Nassau County offices and moved to
Manhattan.
During Thursday's meeting, the talks between county officials and
representatives for the Islanders went on for seven hours before breaking
down.
Veiser said the Islanders asked for financial concessions that were
unacceptable. He did not say what those concessions were.
Lewi said the team wanted an independent contractor to inspect the
Coliseum and had offered to take over management of the arena. Both offers,
he said, were rejected.
Meanwhile, Lewi said the team's lawyers would fight the temporary
restraining order so the Islanders could play their first scheduled
exhibition game on September 25 at Lake Placid, New York, where they are
training.
SMG did not return fax messages seeking comment.
The Islanders, hoping to build a new arena within the next three years
on the site of the Coliseum, have played at the arena since 1972. Their
lease also runs through 2015.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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