Islanders team up with LI tattoo franchise

Seeking to expand its fan base, the Islanders hockey club last week officially announced a new business partnership -- with a tattoo parlor.

In a rinkside concourse during games, Tattoo Lou's will pierce tongues and navels and etch skin with images of fiery pucks and skull-and-cross-sticks.

With the Nassau Coliseum's redevelopment woes, the hockey club may soon be homeless; but in the meantime, at least, the Islanders can help fans decorate themselves in style.

"As part of this strategic partnership, Tattoo Lou's will set up a tattooing and body-piercing station on the Nassau Coliseum concourse for 10 Islanders home games during the 2011-12 season," the Islanders announced on Friday.

Tattoo Lou's will also sell "Islanders-centric body jewelry and tattoo-inspired Islanders T-shirts and sweatshirts," the club said.

Tattoo Lou's has shops in Huntington, West Babylon, Deer Park, St. James and Selden.

In another recent announcement the club on Aug. 11 said Tattoo Lou's had designed Islander-themed T-shirts, in three designs. Lou's also created special Islanders tattoos (permanent and temporary) with 15 designs.

The Islanders see the partnership as a landmark deal, saying, "This is the first time a professional sports franchise has ever designated an official tattoo shop."

Justin Johnson, an Islanders senior vice president, said in the team news release, "They're a great fit with our energetic team on the ice and our youthful fan base around Long Island."

Lou Rubino, president of Tattoo Lou's, said, "This is another victory for the tattoo industry. For a long time, tattoos were frowned upon, but now we've become more and more mainstream."