Ct Post 3/1/15: Has a lot of speculation from beatwriter Michael Fornabaio on the Sound Tigers moving, but team President, Howard Saffan, makes clear he's been told nothing and team has a lease until 2021.
NYIFC Comments:
So basically Webster Bank Arena per the lease agreement means an AHL team (or better) must play at the arena.
Nothing like kicking a team with no regulation wins since 1/9/15 when they are down and in 15th place with virtually no road coverage from Ct Post beyond a call to Brent Thompson afterward.
As usual Mr Fornabaio pushing the Rangers failed brand which has been soundly rejected by die-hard Whalers fans since 1997, who only drew 1,100 people there for a playoff game in 2012.
The language here suggests it's not clear if part of Charles Wang's sale of his majority stake in the Islanders includes the Sound Tigers or the operation of Webster Bank Arena at all.
And of course it must be made clear, Charles Wang operates Webster Bank Arena, and Howard Saffan works for him, this is not Mr Saffan's decision at all.
Mr Saffan left operating the Coliseum for the Islanders to go work in Bridgeport.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have a lease until 2021. If a Ratner renovation happens on time, the Coliseum will likely not be available for any team until September 2017 as was made clear on the Islanders website.