The numbers don’t add up for building a new Nassau Coliseum, which is why the facts haven’t been presented to the taxpayers. The Islanders represent about ¼ of the revenue at the Coliseum and “if” they left, more entertainment events could be booked and those entertainment dollars will still be spent in Nassau. The Coliseum needs to be cleaned up from the revenue it generates. Is a 30-year lease with a shell corporation, not the Islanders, for 40 years of debt a good deal for Nassau?

I AM TOTALLY OPPOSED TO REBUILDING THE NASSAU COLISEUM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A COLISEUM THAT I DON’T USE. I live in Nassau County for 42 years and been to the coliseum 3 times. One hockey game was enough for me for life. Listening to the foul language, screaming for BLOOD and seeing children being taught to behave like animals by the low class trash that attend these games is enough reason to GET RID OF THE ISLANDERS. REGARDLESS OF MUCH MONEY THEY ARE PAID, they are destroying a generation and fostering NO CLASS behavior. Should people who have no use for a new monstrosity have to sell their homes to support this garbage? Please check the number of foreclosed homes in Nassau County and rethink your decision to RAPE the public by saddling them with even more taxes. The rebuilding concept is making me sick. 3 times in 42 years were 3 times too much.

The numbers being touted by Mangano and others are a bit too optimistic. As a professor of sports management and someone who has followed these types of deals for a long time, it is almost certain that the county will not make money on this deal. Publicly-financed facilities just don’t make enough to counterbalance the public’s outlay. The construction jobs are short term. The county’s commitment is 30 years. And you are assuming little to no cost overruns. This is NY. You are guaranteed to have cost overruns. Just ask the Yankees, Mets, and the Jets/Giants (yes I know that is Jersey but we are talking about the same market). If you are going to vote Yes, just remember you are doing so to keep the Islanders not because this is at all fiscally responsible. Wang just is tired of fighting this fight. I don’t blame him. But he has no valid response when he is asked why he can’t privately finance this. He simply says it is not a good idea at this time. I would say the same exact thing back to him when he asks about a publicly financed facility. Finally, the minor league ballpark came out of nowhere. I would love to see the reasoning by including such a structure. I seriously doubt this is the best use of space when it comes to economic impact and residents’ interest. I have never heard anyone cry out for minor league baseball in this market.