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Comptroller: Nassau Better Off Without NHL Season

Comptroller says other events could get a bigger draw over Islanders.

It turns out hockey's return to the Nassau Coliseum may not be as welcomed as expected.

The same week it was announced that the National Hockey League had reached a tentative deal that would end the league's lockout, Nassau Comptroller George Maragos said the county "may be" better off without the NHL this season.

While the difference in loss of revenue is minuscule between having the season and canceling it, Maragos said other events that could be booked at the Coliseum if a full-season lockout were to occur would see a bigger crowd.

"If they do in fact settle, then the loss could be less than $500,000 because we would have the benefit of half of season," Maragos told Patch Thursday before the lockout was settled. "If they actually cancel the season, we may be a little better off because the Islanders are not a big draw compared to other events."

Maragos continued by saying that even if the entire season had been canceled, the county was looking at losses of $500,000 or less. The monetary losses are all in terms of ticket tax and Nassau's share of parking and concessions.

The estimates are based on a full season, in which the county would normally earn approximately $2.6 million in total revenues from the Coliseum, Maragos said.

But the Islanders are more than the sum of their parts. Long Island Association Chief Economist Pearl M. Kamer told Patch that the lockout also impacted nearby businesses dependent on the Coliseum crowd.

“That’s had an impact on the businesses around them: The restaurants, the hotels where people might stay overnight if they go to a game,” Kamer said.

The comptrolller said that Sunday's decision to end the lockout was important to the county because the Coliseum could not be booked while the NHL season was in limbo.

"[Due to] the lockout, which has been kind of month-to-month, it has not allowed the operator to book other events," Maragos said.

The timing of Sunday's tentative deal on the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NHL Players' Association, which still needs to be ratified by both sides, will allow for what experts are projecting to be a 48- to 50-game season.

No official word has been given on when the first game at the Nassau Coliseum will take place.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Me May 22, 2013 at 10:46 am
Might actually be cheaper to buy a used RV. It doesn't need to really run or drive well. You canRead More find them on craigslist for as little as $1,000 dollars. Even if you change aout all matresses, clean up etc you could be all in for only the cost of a month or two rent. Then you can re-sell, donate to charity or give it away free when done and no problem if construction runs long you own it.
Patrick Smith May 22, 2013 at 10:52 am
We are laughing stock of free world,Were supposed to be a roll model LOL
Eddie May 22, 2013 at 10:49 am
Talk to Schumer and McCarthy. They can help you more than we can.
Me May 22, 2013 at 09:41 am
We all are and are all in the same boat. Not that it's any real comfort but you are not alone!Read More Everyone needs to scream and holler (figuratively please) and contact all there elected representatives from Senate and house down to Governor, the state, the county and the city and put them to task and hold their feet to the fire to get it done already.
Eddie May 22, 2013 at 10:52 am
Your bill of sale on Craigslist says the door is Fiberglas, not "clear pine".
Paul Carrella May 22, 2013 at 10:41 am
Taht's right Tony, takes a long time to figure out how to steal that kind of dough. Welcome to theRead More new Asbury Park.
Kat May 22, 2013 at 10:31 am
this is totally f#@!!##ed
Tony D May 22, 2013 at 08:33 am
the reason they haven,t installed any boards yet is because the polaticans are trying to figure outRead More how to put the boardwalk back and still steal most of the 44.5 million that is will cost to replace the boardwalk!
paul.d.spellman May 21, 2013 at 10:56 am
If you have an alarm system, you need to pay the city fee. They hired an outside company to manageRead More the payments so now the fee is expected to be collected.
Leonard Bauman May 21, 2013 at 07:33 pm
I have heard 3 stories: the movie theatre owner had no flood insurance and will need to find $$ toRead More rebuild, no $$ so far; the theatre will be razed and will become home to 4 stores, the movie theatre will be renovated into a world class theatre with surround sound and ticket prices of $2 for children and $4 for adults except after 4PM.
IRISH 4 May 21, 2013 at 10:41 am
I cant believe all the shore towns with boardwalks up and running & Lb hasnt even started .SoRead More much for we are different and are building a better one,Well the first one lasted many years so just upgrade and get finished.& months later and not even a board in & still making excuses AND 4XS THE COST ....WOW WHAT A BARGAIN .
Paul Carrella May 21, 2013 at 09:34 am
Great news. Keep going, build it fast.
Publius May 21, 2013 at 08:56 am
some observations: one, applicable regulations for safety provide you cannot have mixed swimmingRead More and surfing beaches, so if the idea is to have both, you need to allocate. two, different beaches, because of bottom conditions, have very different waves -- ergo, the selection of beaches for surfing. three, on any given summer day with decent waves, and barely decent on a weekend, the number of surfers is dangerous. truly. I will not let my younger children surf/learn on those days. I won't even surf those days. four, on any given summer day, the number of people in the water, let alone actually swimming, is incredibly small in comparison to our total available beach real estate. five, as a general rule under this schedule, no swimmer should have to walk more than a few seconds to 2 minutes to be on a swimming beach. it is an allocation issue and not everyone is going to like the allocation, but that's often a part of the give and take of living in a community where resources are shared. folks who live near the train station have commuters parking in front of the their houses, sometimes with cars left for 2-3 days. similar for folks who live near the beach and can't get parking for themselves or at least their guests on a weekend. there are unbelievable issues with allocation of sports fields for practice and games. west-enders put up with bar traffic and a lot of other things. in any event, my two cents.
JPK May 20, 2013 at 01:46 pm
Couldnt agree more with your question/statement regarding the surf camps. They need to rotate also!Read More I think the camps are great for the kids and one day I hope to have a child in the camp, but they need to spread themselves around the beach!!!!
john peri Jr May 19, 2013 at 09:02 am
Food is just one element of achieving health. There are probably thousands. ForRead More instance---exercise, clean water, sunshine, avoiding poisons, proper sleep, stress management, education, etc.
AEA President May 21, 2013 at 04:13 pm
that's not the only thing going on with those rubber gloves
john peri Jr May 19, 2013 at 07:31 am
With my suggestion, the IRS could enforce compliance with bathroom inspection raids.
Eddie May 18, 2013 at 07:17 pm
Sure john, use yer teeth.
Patrick Smith May 18, 2013 at 08:59 am
After looking at strongerthanthestorm.com and well Jersey completed the work they did,we got toRead More replace the clowns we have running all of Long Beach
Wobbly Jones May 19, 2013 at 02:01 pm
Biggert-Waters bill NEVER passed Senate: watch Sen. Landrieu on YouTube.Read More http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7LptibadAE
Leonard Bauman May 18, 2013 at 10:45 pm
For political reasons, nothing will be said or put in writing. Your request will meet deafness.Read More Only people in Staten Island and in certain places in Rockaway will be bought out. Sorry, if you don't want to fix up your shack, Shokrian and other opportunistic developer sharks are circling you to buy your shack for 60 cents on the dollar. Sell! Sell! Sell to these sharks or fix it up, your choice!
Mike Cogg May 18, 2013 at 12:50 pm
I assume we will not be offered a buyout, but what im looking for is official notice from the Gov'tRead More stating this (contradicting Cuomo / who has half the balls Christie has who of course is getting this done) so its official
Jonathan Kaplan May 17, 2013 at 10:35 am
Flagged as spam, too
Eddie May 17, 2013 at 10:19 am
Why can't Staples pay for an ad on Patch instead of posting this stuff here?
Eddie May 17, 2013 at 09:14 pm
Then think twice before you vote Democrat, Crystal. The blood will be on YOUR hands if you do.
Crystal G Piatnick May 17, 2013 at 12:18 pm
There is no question about it. Its not a matter of " right to choose" Its a matter of isRead More abortion murder...I was so upset with the Orient and what they do to cats and dogs... Look what America does to our children...Cuomo will have their blood on his hands....I am not for abortion at all. But aborting the fetus in the third trimester has to be stopped.. Its murder.. These infants r about to be born..
Eddie May 17, 2013 at 10:18 am
Cuomo's "Equal Rights for Women" law will permit abortion up to nine months in New York.Read More Same grisly stuff from the Democrats.
Denise Giardello May 18, 2013 at 12:41 pm
not funny!
Jonathan Kaplan May 17, 2013 at 10:19 am
I can get you a closet in the West End for only $2000 a month, let me know if you're interested
Wobbly Jones May 18, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Enough of the nonsense.
paul.d.spellman May 17, 2013 at 10:12 am
CMOS, The surfers from out of town come here all year long and add to the economy 12 months a year,Read More what additional benefit do those people pushing shopping carts full of kid's toys add? Last summer the surfers were give only 1 in 3 beaches and that was base on increased demand, and this year more surfers are expected so it makes sense that more beach be set aside for them, or some kids are going to get hurt and then the city will need to pay for that.
Castles Made of Sand May 17, 2013 at 09:30 am
Paul, after you give us numbers on the "driving" economics of surfers, please tell us howRead More many surfers come the beach in the summer. Do you know? Or are you just guessing? Your argument that surf shops continue to exist as a result of surfers shopping there is darn near brilliant. I heard a report that supermarkets in town are being solely supported by hungry people. I can't attest to that though. I do know that Empire Kayak is secretly kept in business by Whirling Dirvishes from Instanbul, and not kayakers. But I digress.
Crystal G Piatnick May 16, 2013 at 07:46 pm
I think u r right Joseph. Its really disappointing..:( What the hec r they doing...????? Well theyRead More have 100 days to complete the boardwalk in the middle section. contract started March 12..or the 15th...60 days already and they did nothing...They have 40 more days to complete it. I really hope the town holds them to the contract.. I really do.
Joseph Alperstein May 16, 2013 at 11:20 am
grace is the Co. building bdwalk
Charlie Cheswick May 16, 2013 at 09:38 am
Is she? Good for her.
Elliot Zuckerman May 17, 2013 at 05:48 am
Paul as a life long resident, the first surfing school in LB and home owners hit hard by Sandy IRead More thought it was only right to reduce our fee for summer camp.We have had many families here in the same position and just could not afford camp this summer and asked if we can help with local families so we did just that , we will fill up fast so please sign up soon as we do limit our camps to avoid any over crowding. We also have posted our dates for the ONLY 501c3 special needs surfing foundation in Long Beach, please check out surfersway .org for more info.Its free and open to all special needs kids. Elliot
paul.d.spellman May 16, 2013 at 07:51 am
Now if we could only get the City to reduce the outrageous fees forced upon the surf schools one canRead More only imagine how low these prices would go. Does anyone actually know where the fees the schools pay go to?