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Bettman: Brooklyn might not be a viable destination for Islanders

Gary Bettman

The New York Islanders don’t want to stay in Nassau Coliseum once their lease ends in 2015. So the question now is: where will they go?

The ideal is for them to stay in Nassau County, but voters said no to a $400 referendum that would have led to a new arena.

There’s been some speculation that the team might head to Brooklyn, but that comes with its own issues. Although the team will play a preseason game in Barclays Center, as we previously reported, the building isn’t ideal for an NHL team because of its small capacity for those games.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also has some concerns about the team relocating to Brooklyn. His concern is that it would be hard for the Islanders fans in Queens and Long Island to reach games. He also said that the NHL is helping the team explore their options “in the metropolitan area.” Right now, the Islanders leaving New York isn’t being considered.