Get Your Shovels Ready

If you've been following the saga of the New York Islanders, you know they played at Barclays Center for the majority of the season before transforming the old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum into Thunderdome during their first-round playoff series against the Penguins. It became pretty clear to anyone watching the games that not only do the Islanders need a proper hockey home to play in, but that moving back to Long Island was the only option. With that knowledge, it became pretty clear that the Islanders' proposal for a new rink and entertainment center at the current Belmont Park location was the only proposal that needed to be tabled.

I'm late on this news, but the New York state board that is responsible for economic development unanimously approved the $1.3 billion development on Thursday. Temper the celebrations for now, Islanders fans, but it should get you a little giddy because this was a major hurdle to clear in getting the Islanders back on the island proper. The boys are almost back in Nassau County permanently!

Before we start planning ribbon-cutting ceremonies and ground-breaking photo opportunities, there are still a few other hurdles to clear for the Islanders. The Franchise Oversight Board must approve the an environmental review before a single speck of dirt can be moved for a new arena. This environmental review should be before the board in a matter of weeks, and it's expected to be passed.

The Empire State Development also opened up a 120-day window for opponents to file lawsuits in opposition to the building of this new development. Among those who will use this 120-day window is Floral Park Village who had "for more time to respond to the final environmental impact statement because it includes significant changes to the project such as a new Elmont Long Island Rail Road station."

The 120-day countdown started on Thursday, but it's expected that the project team will work closely with Floral Park Village to come to an agreement. The concern that was raised on Thursday's meetings was the proposed "LIRR station's proximity to an elementary school and nearby homes" which would cause additional noise and pedestrian traffic among other concerns. I feel like these two concerns can be solved fairly easily, but we'll see what happens in the coming days.

The Islanders, it seems, are excited about the latest news.

Today marks an historic occasion for the #Isles and our amazing fans!
☝️☝️☝️
The ESD Board has approved the Environmental Impact Statement for Belmont Park Arena & the schedule is on track to have our new home open for the 2021-22 season! #NextStopBelmont https://t.co/HIcqXZbC92

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 8, 2019

For a team that saw its fans turn out in droves to support them on Long Island in the playoffs, I'd be excited if I were the Islanders as well. It's been a decade since they called Nassau County "home" permanently, but, if everything goes to plan, that will become a reality in 2021.

While there will be games at the Coliseum next season, the one thing that Islanders fans should do is get out to as many games as possible, even out in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. The Islanders are a young, exciting team and there's a better-than-good chance they'll have a state-of-the-art arena in two years' time. If that doesn't get you excited for the future of the New York Islanders, you're likely a Rangers fan.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!