I can smell, from 3,000 miles away, a massive lawsuit by Yankee fans regarding these obstructed views. And it would cost less to settle that lawsuit, tear down the new stadium, and continue to use the old stadium.

I am not from New York, but I can truly tell you that I would prefer to watch a baseball game at home than pay $25 to set in a set where you can't see the field at all except for having a TV in front of you.

The reality of the matter is SOMEONE will find something to complain about this stadium (or even the old one for that matter (Such as how they "Are Bad Neighbors")). Ticket prices, tearing down parks, seating arrangements, taxes, restaurants, the community, parking, Metro North Station, tradition, bonds, cost overruns, pollution and jobs (Or lack of) to name a few.
They are going to be winners and losers in every project that is ever considered (Not just Yankee Stadium (I can only imagine what the final cost of the Willets Point area be (New BILLION DOLLAR Police Academy, moving busineses, environmental cleanup, parks, and everything else involved with creating a community)?).
The reality of the matter, is the New Yankee Stadium is opening in April (As is Citi Field), and nothing will change that. The question still remains what went wrong and at the same time went RIGHT (Again like every major project). And what lessons can be learned from it? Will we see a new Lighthouse Project in Uniondale? or an Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn? I don't know. But somwhere, sometime in the future, a stadium, an arena, a concert venue, a megaplex, a museum, or something of an entertainment value will be considered and eventually built, so I hope more effort is taken to improve these projects, instead of simply fighting old battles like Yankee Stadium

Speaking of the Wang's Lighthouse:

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-liisle256048533feb25,0,3820734.story

Still not sure I understand how he's going to fund the development/arena. TIF? STIF? It will be interesting to see the lease for the 150 acres if this goes forward.

Updating my update:

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-liligh256048532feb25,0,1531565.story

"In an interview after the meeting, Wang said he has not yet obtained financing for the project. But he said he's optimistic about getting funding in increments over the 10 years the project would be built."

Wang said he's been looking to foreign investors and governments, including China, as financing options.

Developer Ted Weiss was less optimistic, saying Wang and Rechler face a "virtually impossible" task. "I can't imagine any bank, insurance company, pension plan or any traditional lender who's capable of doing a project of that size," Weiss said. "... There is no funding to do that project."

That must be where the taxpayers come in.

I lived most of my life in Nassau County, so I know how hard it is getting anything started, let alone finished there. Starting with the idea of a shuttle stop from Mineola. It may sound wonderful (There are three lines (Port Jefferson, Huntington, & Oyster Bay) running through it, and rarely used tracks close to the Coliseum, so theoretically it makes sense), but in reality, it is not happening (The idea of a third rail on the Main Line (Floral Park to Hicksville), has created so much anger with homeowners and local businesses, it is not funny. In addition, because of economics, the LIRR is even talking about elimination of weekend service on the West Hempstead Branch (I can imagine what would happen if they built the Coliseum stop, while eliminating service on the West Hempstead Branch. You will see protests galore, and politicians losing their jobs left and right over it)).
As for the Coliseum itself, Wang and company are not going to wait forever (He himself talked the financing issue, and the difficulty involved. In addition, he already got burned on a seperate development issue in Oyster Bay, so he has to be wary). Finally, this is NOT the Marlins situation, there are plenty of options available for them to move to. Kansas City, Orlando, Portland, and Hamilton, Ontario come to mind (Maybe even Atlantic Yards, Brooklyn (Which would allow them to continue to receive the $15m per season they get in broadcast rights from Cablevision)). Throw this into the mix, if they get the number one draft pick and get the rights to John Tavares, they will get a good offer from someone in Hamilton (Like the guy who tried to buy the Penguins & Preditors). Because they WILL sell out that building every night in hockey mad Hamilton (Tavares is almost urban legend in his HOME Province of Ontario).
This issue will be coming to a head very soon, it will be interesting to see if they remain on Long Island, or move. I think this issue will be decided one way or another before the next season.

Not that I think Atlantic Yards will get built at this point, but does anyone know the NBA rules about relocating within a metro area? I'd think that the Rangers and Devils would have something to say about a Brooklyn move, but not sure of their standing.

As for whether this will be decided before next season, I'll take the over. Things pretty much never move that fast in these matters, especially as long as Wang still has hopes that move threats can get an arena deal out of Nassau County.

as long as the yankees have a shill like mike francesa, they don't care unless you are paying top dollar...

as long as the yankees have a shill like mike francesa, they don't care unless you are paying top dollar...

Hamilton is not an option, because that would place a franchise smack dab in between the Leafs and the Sabres, who are only 90 miles apart as it is. Balsillie can huff and puff and hold his breath until he turns blue, but as long as you have teams in Toronto and Buffalo, the NHL won't allow a team in Hamilton.

KC? Maybe.

Neil, I agree with you that Atlantic Yards is a long-shot (Although an Islander willingness to move there would increase the odds). As for compensation, the Islanders paid the Rangers for 25 years a fee to move into the area, and take the name NEW YORK Islanders. Any move to Brooklyn would constitute a lateral move, so it would have limited (If any effect) on the Rangers or Devils, so they would have to pay them nothing.
I am of the opinion that whatever happens with the Islanders will be done quickly,for the following reasons: 1: Because of the fact financing options are drying up (As Wong admitted to). 2: Wong already got burned with other Nassau County development projects, so he has to be worried. 3: Nassau County politics and the NIMBY attitudes that make any kind of development (Even road improvement) difficult at best (For example: In the Village of Hempstead, which is very poor, they turned down a BILLION DOLLAR investment, because they "DON"T WANT TO TURN THE VILLAGE INTO NEW YORK CITY"). 4: Last, but certainly not least, several other NHL franchises are in trouble (Atlanta, Florida, Nashville & Phoenix come to mind), with a limited amount of buildings available or under construction (KC, Portland, Orlando, (Maybe Louisville & Hamilton), and I know Wong does not want to be playing building musical chairs, and stuck in the same old building in Uniondale.
As an Islander fan, I can't blame him.

Memo to sjs1959, It wouldn't hurt for Hamilton to have an NHL team. They can form an rivalry with Toronto and Buffalo for all I care. If it means losing the Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightining, or Phoenix Coyotes, so be it. The NHL would be a stronger league without the US cities listed.

You say that it would be horrible for there to be three teams within 90 miles of each other? That would be about the same as having the New York Giants and Jets and Philadelphia Eagles within the same space. Heck, you had the NY baseball Giants, Dodgers, and Yankees within 20 miles of each other from 1901 to 1957 even though it was a different time period.

Finally, Januz does have a point in her original comment, but facts are facts and the Yankees blew their project big time. For example, they could have selected another location than across from the old stadium to build New Yankee Stadium. Maybe there could have been an area in Santen Island that could have offered a open outfield with a view of the Statue of Liberty. Or how about an Atlantic Yards spot where the Yankees could have an Hall of Fame attached to their ballpark, or they could have built in the eastern Bronx. If the Yankees could have followed the Mets plan, I am sure that the old stadium would have been 50% gone by now in order to replace the lost parkland. I know replacing a parking lot isn't the same as replacing a park, but the Mets did everything right when they decided to replace Shea Stadium with Citi Field.

Jessy, I'm not opposed to the idea, but the Leafs and Sabres would raise holy hell if Bettman even hinted that he would allow it. while no one would really care what the Sabres thought, the Leafs are still the Leafs and Bettman would cave in to them, IMO.