Tennis Anyone? Islanders to Flushing....

Sports Business Journal: Don Muret in an article about the USTA putting a retractable roof on the Tennis Stadium in Flushing has comments from Danny Zausner, managing director of the U.S. Tennis Association who did a little speculation about the Islanders and Nets in a multipurpose facility that seats over twenty thousand.

The writer reports Islanders officials declined to comment on whether they would consider moving from Uniondale to Queens and released a statement from media relations coordinator Josh Bernstein that the club’s focus remains on improving Nassau.


NYI Fan Central Comments:
Fun story for a Monday but the Islanders did issue a comment about this and if a WNBA game can be played there it may just be feasible if a roof were put on the Tennis Stadium to play hockey.

The parking, highway access and LI railroad link is right there.

That loud noise in the background is Msg threatening to pull all television coverage and void the cable contract. Considering the Mets prior ownership bid on the Hub area it would be interesting to see the Islanders on their doorstep?

Fun story for a quiet monday but if a roof is put on that building it can be used for year-round sports. To my knowledge it sits quietly in Flushing Meadows Park most of the year.

Islander/NHL notables

Islanders website: Islanders New Vice President of Communications
Josh Bernstein comments on the new Islanders Illustrated program that will debut June 18th on Msg plus and what the long-term plans are for this permanent feature.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Good concept to have a television show for the Islanders that is long overdue. I do not want to come off negative here but the house team at Msg has constant progamming that can run for a full day and longer if necessary so I'm not sure if it's time to celebrate one program. I want to see Jiggs McDonald do half hour programs on all the great players from the franchise with highlights from their careers and the writers comments.

And the same has to start happening for the Devils.

If Ron Duguay can get something like this on Msg there is no excuse for championship winning players with multiple cups as New York Islanders being profiled as well as the entire current team along with a regular schedule of the greatest Islander games as voted by the fans. Added to that a regular lineup of pre-season games televised with some games sold to channel nine or channel four to help market the club that would normally appear on Msg plus2.

Finally repeat Islander telecasts provided a one hour edition.

When the Garden starts making television inroads like this for our team that is the day I give them credit for doing things properly and will call them a fair partner.

Partners share, not give one team ninety eight percent while splitting two percent with the other two teams.

It's helped kill exposure and ratings for all three teams and the sport in the New York market. One look at the local coverage for the finals say it all.

THN.com/several articles: Ken Campbell confirms Blake Wheeler rejected the Coyotes final offer and will be an unrestricted free agent as of June 8th with the ramifications of this.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
One of those ramificantions is the Coyotes are awarded the fifth pick in the second round which pushes the Islanders back a spot. Kyle Okposo is from Minnesota as well as Wheeler.

Someone will get a good prospect without giving up a player in return, his value in terms of contract is limited as to what can be offered so this will not be a sweepstakes.

I think it goes without saying it sure would not hurt the Isles youth movement to try and sign him along with twenty eight other clubs.

Yahoo sports: Released an uncredited team report which is basically a summary of recent Islander events with some speculation on their own free agents along with a few old comments from the Isles website.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
It is what it is, take it as an uncredited overview. I debated posting it at all here but Ross McKeon does some good hockey reports for this site.

Finally a horrible day for the entire NHL family and all of it's fans with the death of Cauncks prospect Luc Bourdon in a motorcycle accident. Bourdon played in Moncton under Ted Nolan and Danny Flynn when they reached the memorial cup final.