Ratner and Yormark meet with NHL officials
Soon after the defeat of Nassau County's referendum to build the Islanders a new arena, Brooklyn arose as an attractive option for the team's relocation. That possibility is now looking more realistic.
A league spokesperson confirmed to Newsday reports that Barclays Center developer Bruce Ratner and CEO Brett Yormark met with NHL officials at the league office in Manhattan recently.
The spokesperson declined to discuss the nature of the meeting, but an additional league source defined it as "very general and conceptual in nature."
Earlier this month, Yormark indicated through an emailed statement to Newsday that the Barclays Center was a viable option for the team.
"The Barclays Center will have an ice rink that can support professional hockey. Due to the venue's design, the capacity for hockey would be a few thousand seats less than for basketball. While we hope to explore hockey opportunities in the future, our primary focus at the moment is to build the best sports and entertainment venue in the world."
One question that has surfaced repeatedly with regards to the Barclays Center is whether the arena's limited capacity--believed to be about 14,000 for hockey-- would be a deterrent.
However, each evaluation is "situation based" by the NHL.
"We have no set seating capacity or requirements established," the league spokesperson said.
