• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
New York Islanders

Islanders Returning Home to Coliseum for 2020-21

By Matt Rothman March 1st, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The New York Islanders returning home to the Nassau Coliseum for all their games during the 2020-21 season is some of the best news Islanders fans have heard in quite some time. With the new arena in Belmont being built and the renovation of the Coliseum during the past few years, the Islanders moved their home games to Brooklyn.

While Barclays Center is one of the most beautiful venues in which to watch an event, it was not built for hockey. There were many obstructed seats with obstructed views, and the scoreboard was not lined up to center ice.

Announcement from Governor Cuomo: “The Islanders are going to be playing every home game next season (2020-21) here at the Coliseum and every home playoff game right here at the Coliseum.” pic.twitter.com/xMhebvzO1x

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 29, 2020

After the renovation to the Coliseum, the Islanders split their home games at the two venues last season and were scheduled to do so again this season. However, the team announced at the beginning of the season that they added seven more games to the Coliseum and will now play all 41 of their home games in 2020-21 in a place Islanders fans call home. New York State invested $6 million in improving the Coliseum to make it work for the 2020 playoffs as well.

“The Islanders have always been Long Island’s team, and I’m proud to announce this iconic sports franchise will be coming home for good – one year ahead of schedule,” Governor Cuomo said. “This long-awaited homecoming will bring the Islanders back to their passionate fan base while generating energy and excitement from Long Islanders for the new Belmont Park Arena opening next year.”

NHL.com

Two Home Arenas

While the Islanders played exceptionally well in Brooklyn, winning their first playoff series in 23 years, there was just never the same amount of energy during home games. For many fans living in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, they had to take the train to the game instead of making the short drive to the Coliseum where fans would start tailgating hours before puck drop.

Barclays Center
Barclays Center (THW Archives)

The ice was also extremely poor at Barclays, and Islanders players would openly criticize the ice conditions. They were also forced to stay in hotels in New York City prior to home games in order to participate in morning skates (from ‘Islanders will be staying in New York City for games at Barclays,’ New York Post, 04/26/2019).

They ultimately had to play Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Brooklyn after the NHL deemed the Coliseum did not qualify as an NHL arena despite holding Round 1 there. The arena now holds the Long Island Nets as well as the New York Open in February. Even with 2,008 fewer seats in the Coliseum, it still blew away the Barclays Center in attendance. The same can be said about this season.

Related: NHL Legend Bill Torrey & His Islanders Legacy

Back in 2011, Nassau County residents rejected the proposal for a $400 million overhaul to keep the Islanders in their original home. (from ‘Nassau Voters Reject Proposal to Fix Coliseum,’ New York Times, 08/02/2011) After it did not go through, the Islanders needed to find a new place to play with many questions coming up if they would stay on Long Island. They ended up playing in Brooklyn, but have a new home set to debut in Belmont in 2021-22.

Coliseum Memories

The most iconic moment in Islanders’ history happened in the Coliseum at 7:11 of overtime in Game 6 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Final. John Tonelli made a pass to Bob Nystrom, who scored the Cup-clinching goal for the Islanders’ first Stanley Cup in team history. They would end up winning the next three Cups with one of them coming on Coliseum ice.

Nicknamed Fort Neverlose, and the ‘old barn,’ the Islanders have had many iconic moments take place in that building. Before closing, the lowest-hanging ceiling in the NHL made the arena one of the loudest in the league. Even with seats breaking and leaks coming from the roof, Islanders fans continued to come out to a place they call home and had hundreds of memorable moments.

We are looking forward to playing all of our games next season at the Coliseum before we move to our new home at Belmont Park, both of which have been made possible by Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Bettman

Co-owner Jon Ledecky

For the rest of this season, the Islanders will have eight more games at the Coliseum and are playing their last three games ever in Brooklyn in March. While the Isles have not lost in regulation at the Barclays Center this season, fans will still be happy to spend their time in the old barn. They recently added two former players to the rafters in Tonelli and Butch Goring in one of the most iconic arenas in the league.

Get the latest New York Islanders news, rumors, commentary and analysis

  • Tags
  • Barclays Center
  • Belmont Park
  • Nassau Coliseum
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 16th 6:10 PM
Hockey History

25 Best Senators’ Memories From 25 Years at Canadian Tire Centre

Jan 16th 6:00 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Colangelo, Andersson, Drew & More

Jan 16th 5:50 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Need Taxi Squad to Drive Better Results in Net

Jan 16th 5:40 PM
Women's Hockey

Toronto Six 2021 Season Preview

Jan 16th 5:30 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Have a lot of Options to Deal With Laine

Jan 16th 5:20 PM
Dallas Stars

Stars’ COVID-19 Cases Could Cost Them

Jan 16th 4:25 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Campbell, Andersen, Tavares & Robertson

Jan 16th 4:15 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Look to Benefit From Week Off

Jan 16th 3:05 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Josh Anderson’s Canadiens Debut Should Make Marc Bergevin Proud

Jan 16th 2:55 PM
Other Leagues

OHL Would Benefit From 24-Game Season

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information