Bettman delights crowd with Lighthouse support
Photo credit: Newsday/Photo by James Carbone | June 8, 2009; Uniondale, NY: Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Talks About Lighthouse Project
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman boldly left neutral ice Tuesday, appearing before the Hempstead Town Board to support the Islanders' Lighthouse project. He certainly was not on thin ice with the crowd, which cheered him when he was introduced and roared louder when he made this declaration:
"There is probably no worse major-league facility in North America than Nassau Coliseum."
Bettman, having identified himself as a native Long Islander, went on to tell the board, "This facility must be replaced because I have no doubt that the Islanders cannot and will not stay in this facility one second longer than they are legally bound to."
The commissioner joked about being the toast of the town in front of the big crowd at Hofstra, alluding to the fact he often is roasted by hockey fans who blame him for the 2004-05 lockout.
In previous years, Bettman had been cautious about the Lighthouse, regularly saying that the Islanders need a new arena but stopping short of endorsing the entire $4-billion development proposed by Islanders owner Charles Wang and partner Scott Rechler. There was no holding back Tuesday, though. He was fully behind Wang, Rechler and the Lighthouse.
"I am very hopeful. It appears the project has more momentum than at any other time I can remember," the commissioner said after his appearance at the hearing. "Look at what Charles Wang has done under the most adverse circumstances for the last seven or eight years - financially, emotionally and with energy. He has committed himself to it and he is not a quitter. He is somebody who sees projects through."
Bettman was asked, kiddingly, if he would consider a Winter Classic at Hofstra Stadium. He gave a serious answer. He said there is a good chance of an outdoor game in the New York area because there is so much interest. "That's why we have three teams here," said the man who wants to keep all three where they are.
