Nassau Coliseum Has A New General Manager

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/05/2012 06:31:00 PM | | | | |
Tulsa World: Reports Jerry Goldman, who has served as the BOK Center’s assistant general manager since it opened in August 2008, has been hired to be the general manager of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

In that role, Goldman will be responsible for the overall operations and booking of the facility.

Both facilities are overseen by SMG venue management firm.

NYIFC Comments:
This is being posted for a few reasons.

1. Our NYIFC 1/9/2012 entry   links to a Connecticut Business News Journal Article where Bridgeport Sound Tigers President, Howard Saffan, discusses management of Webster Bank Arena under Charles Wang's new 2011 agreement in Bridgeport where he said the following:  

I used to manage the Nassau Coliseum [in Uniondale, N.Y., home to the NHL’s New York Islanders]. There we had 138 events in the prior year. 

2. Charles Wang and/or Scott Rechler have a vested interest in the Coliseum under the 2009 sublease agreement, where Mr Saffan makes clear he managed the Nassau Coliseum.

Review Of Sublease Agreement Notables:
1. The sublease requires the Islanders to pay SMG $3.4 million annually, plus additional payments structured as a percentage of the Islanders' net operating income.

2. The deal gives the Islanders operational control of the Coliseum, while SMG will continue to handle day-to-day activities. The Islanders will receive all revenue that SMG used to get, including parking, concessions and some ticket sales and the team will handle all Coliseum bookings. 

3. The deal gives the Islanders operational control of the Coliseum, while SMG will continue to handle day-to-day activities there. The Islanders will receive all revenue that SMG used to get, including parking, concessions and some ticket sales and the team will handle all Coliseum bookings.

4.If Charles Wang wanted to sell the Islanders, or move them before 2015, and relinquish control of the Coliseum, they would immediately have to pay SMG the remainder of the rent due for the entire term of the lease, which still expires in July 2015.

5. Nassau County would have to approve the team leaving.

Bottom Line:
This comes down to was this hire made by Charles Wang/Scott Rechler, an internal change made only by Smg, or a sign Wang/Rechler want out of the sublease agreement?

The sublease says the Isles handle bookings, this article says Mr Goldman will handling booking?

Those writing this sublease was some kind of gift to Wang/Rechler forget it cost seventeen million dollars through the end of the Islanders lease with Nassau.

It was announced in Tom Suozzi's closing days as County Executive 12/27/2009.

Ed Mangano was critical of the agreement.

If the Islanders had Mr Saffan managing the Coliseum, why is Smg bringing in someone to apparently do what a current employee of Charles Wang in Bridgeport had been doing?

Or between the time Mr Saffan managed the Coliseum, a different Smg employee had been in that function for Smg?

It bears some close watching.

NYIFC will ask Ed Mangano this directly via twitter and see if he can provide a straight answer if he's letting the Islanders out of their lease early or is aware of this change?