Maragos: "It won't be the End of the World if the County Doesn't Have a Hockey Team"

If you don't know George Maragos, he is the Comptroller of Nassau County.  Recently when interviewed about the prospective effect of a loss of a hockey season on the LI economy he seemed to shake it off because he said that concerts could still play at the arena and that is evidenced by the last lockout in 04/05.

While to a certain extent Maragos is right, I think he is underestimating having to compete with a semi-redone MSG and the Barclays Center as well as the Prudential Center.  Back in 04/05 MSG had no renovation at all and Barclays wasn't even close to being done.  Same could be said for the Prudential Center.  If he thinks the Coliseum will compete with them for events he going to be eating a piece of humble pie sooner rather later.  I think the Coliseum would get a few shows hear and there, however, the bulk of them would go to MSG/Barclays Center/Prudential Center thus leaving the Coliseum out in the cold.

The reason I made note of the quote in the title is one has to wonder if that's how the powers at be in Nassau County really feel.  Even with all that Ed Mangano has done over the last few months to try and secure the Islanders future here.  Do quotes like the one above truly reflect the feelings of the powers at be in the County?  Well, nobody knows!  However, it is something to think about.

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