Q&A with Wang on financing new Coliseum

On Tuesday night, Long Islanders will get what may be their last chance to question Islanders owner Charles Wang about Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's plan to borrow $400 million to build a new Coliseum and minor league baseball field near it.

Action Long Island, one of the region's largest business groups, is sponsoring the event at the Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park, starting at 5:30 p.m. A referendum on whether to borrow the $400 million is slated for six days later, on Aug. 1.

Shelly Sackstein, ALI'S chairman, said other guests were scheduled to speak Tuesday evening but bowed out to give the floor to Wang, who's seeking a new facility for his team, and Michael Picker, the Islanders' senior vice president.

"This will be a chance to sit down with them and ask questions," Sackstein said. He said ALI's position is that the Coliseum must be rebuilt. "We've had a Coliseum for 40 years, and we need another new Coliseum for the next 40 years."

Wang will speak for a few moments before taking queries and comments, Sackstein said. An Islanders spokesman, Kimber Auerbach, said only that Wang and Picker will be there.

Not everyone will go. Desmond Ryan, executive director of the developers' group Association for a Better Long Island, which opposes the borrowing plan, will stay away.

Tickets are $50 for ALI members and $60 for nonmembers.