Ledecky, and businessman Scott D. Malkin, purchased a minority stake of the Islanders in October 2014 from Charles D. Wang. Wang is largely remembered for the failed “Lighthouse Project,” which proposed pouring $3.74 billion into renovating the bulk of downtown Uniondale, New York.
The project would have called for houses, office buildings, hotels, restaurants, the world’s largest lighthouse, and upwards of $350 million to either renovate or completely rebuild the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (depending on what report you were reading).
After numerous attempts, the project was abandoned in May 2011. In October 2012 Wang announcement the Islanders would sign a 25-year lease to move into the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, upon the completion of their lease with “The Vet” in 2015.
Ledecky, 58, had been trying to purchase a stake in a “Big Four” franchise since 1998. His past attempts included the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Montreal Canadiens, and even all three Washington, D.C. franchises not owned by Dan Snyder.
All the Ledecky-owned Islanders have done in two seasons have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2001-04. In fact, All Star forward John Tavares put the Islanders into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since 1993, with a double overtime goal in Game Six of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Florida Panthers.
Ledecky and Malkin took over as majority owners on July 1, with nothing but promise ahead of one of the younger teams in the National Hockey League. It doesn’t hurt that Tavares--one of the 10 best players in the sport--captains your roster every night on the ice. While losing forwards Matt Martin, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo to free agency, the Islanders added much-needed veteran leadership with the acquisitions of Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera. Ladd has three Stanley Cup Championships under his belt, and should result in many highlight reel plays alongside Tavares on the top forward line this season. Tavares has also publically stated he intends to remain on Long Island once his current six-year contract expires in the summer of 2018.
Ledecky’s Islanders had success last year at Barclay’s, despite being universally panned by both players and fans alike. The Nassau Coliseum had to go as home to the Isles, and there was so much promise when the NBA’s New Jersey Nets decided to move to Brooklyn in 2012. Instantly Islander fans hoped Barclay’s would be the outlet to keep the Islanders on Long Island, instead of a potential relocation to Kansas City, which was rumored several times. Ironically enough, an $89 million renovation to the Nassau Coliseum passed on September 24, 2013. The renovation will shrink the overall attendance to around 13,000.
Barclay’s Center is the second-smallest venue (15,795) in the National Hockey League, sitting only ahead of the MTS Center in Winnipeg (15,294). Fans complain of obstructed views, and a scoreboard that hangs more towards one of the blue lines, than directly over center ice. Players argue the ice may be some of the worst they have played on in their careers.
Don’t worry Islander fans, the Islanders will not be heading back to Uniondale after the renovations are completed. There is a rumor that is picking up steam of Barclays only being a temporary home for the Isles. New York Mets majority owner Fred Wilpon is speaking with Ledecky and Malkin about a proposed new hockey-oriented arena being built in the empty lot next to City Field in Queens, New York. Currently, there is no on-site parking for fans attending games at Barclay’s Center. The arena can only be reached either by mass transit, or on foot.
The Islanders can opt out of the 25-year lease Wang signed as early as the summer of 2019.
So Ledecky has a promising franchise, and a potential new arena by the close of the decade.
Oh yeah...there’s also that thing about his niece winning a bunch of medals at the Rio Summer Olympics…
If the Ledecky name looks familiar to you, it should. John Ledecky has a niece named Katie. Yes...THAT Katie Ledecky.
If Michael Phelps has torched the green water in Rio on the men’s side, Katie Ledecky has burned the facility to the foundation--and deservedly so. Ledecky finished her second Olympic games winning four gold medals (200 meter, 400m, 800m and 4x200m freestyles), and one silver (4x100m freestyle). She even found time to break two world records (400m and 800m). In her victory in the 800m freestyle, Ledecky broke her own world record (8:06.68) by nearly two full seconds (8:04.79). To put this feat into perspective, Katie was more than a full body-length past the world record graphic NBC Sports had on the screen by the final time she touched the wall...over 11 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Jazmin Carlin (8:16.17) for silver.
Ledecky originally set the 800m record at the 2013 World Championships. Since August 2013, the now-19-year-old niece has lowered her record on four separate occasions. She no doubt will be honored during one of the first few home games of the upcoming Islanders 2016-17 season.
The passing of legendary Islander coach Al Arbour just weeks before training camp last season seemed to hang a large, black cloud over the Islanders. Barring the dumping of those ridiculous black jerseys, this season for the Islanders may have players and fans thinking 36 lbs. of silver come June.
Just don’t let Uncle John tell Katie that she should strive for silver in the pool.
-JC24