Report: Islanders nearing deal to play some games at Nassau Coliseum
The New York Islanders are apparently nearing an agreement to play some regular-season games in their old barn while the new one is being built.
Two sources familiar with the situation told Newsday's Jim Baumbach that the Islanders are closing in on a deal to play a mix of games at Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center in the years leading up to the opening of the new facility at Belmont Park.
It's not yet clear how the games would be split, but the earliest the Belmont Park arena would be ready is the 2021-22 season, which means the club would need to figure out a temporary solution for three full seasons after this one.
The Islanders are negotiating with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, which owns both their current and former homes, and have a deadline of Jan. 30 to opt out of their deal at Barclays Center.
They won the bid to redevelop Belmont Park in December. Earlier this month, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he was open to the possibility of the Islanders playing some games at the Coliseum in the years before their new arena is ready.
Related: Bettman, Islanders owner tour Nassau Coliseum as possible temporary arena
Nassau Coliseum recently underwent a $165-million renovation.
The Islanders left it for Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2015-16, but have had a host of issues in the new building since, from complaints about sight lines and the ice conditions to the piping system reportedly not meeting NHL standards.