New York Islanders: How Barclays Center is purgatory for the franchise

The New York Islanders are heading home to Long Island in a few seasons but what does this mean for their current home in Barclays Center?

It is definitely hard to admit but it is pretty obvious that the New York Islanders might not even be the same team if it was not for Barclays Center.

The league no longer wanted them in the Coliseum and the old ownership could not get the ball rolling on a new arena going.

Nassau Coliseum is not ideal or suitable for 41 games a year. They had to go.

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Barclays Center, as many flaws as it has, was the only option for the Islanders at the time.

There are endless pros and cons to Brooklyn. The New York City market is huge and it brought new fans to the team.

However, the integration of the Isles moving into the same direct market as the Rangers has been a failure.

I know it takes time to build a bigger fan base and it often takes winning. History is not on the Isles’ side in Brooklyn.

The Mets will always be the Yankees’ little brother, the Jets the Giants’, the Nets the Knicks’ it’s just how it is. The Isles moving to Long Island is far and away the right thing.

No more competing for the Rangers’ market, no more of the Islanders being the Rangers ‘ little brother, they are now going to be an only child.

So Barclays Center is like Purgatory for the Isles.

It’ll never be ready or fully equipped for ice hockey. It will never bring the same sense of nostalgia to the long time, money spending fans.

But without the Barclays Center, the New York Islanders very well could be in Quebec, Hartford, or Seattle. Just somewhere else.

Brooklyn is not the best home, but its a home reasonable enough for the fans.

It is not where the Isles can thrive the most and have the best quality home atmosphere.

Next: What is the Isles key to success?

Barclays simply provides a home for the New York Islanders.

This might all be irrelevant because they are leaving, but it is worth noting the role their current home plays for the franchise.

The Isles could be elsewhere but Brooklyn is definitely not the best place for them. Which in theory, is like purgatory.

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