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http://www.mediabistro.com/
This afternoon, the four groups bidding to get the right to redevelop the Nassau Coliseum and surrounding area made presentations to an economic council that will advise Ed Mangano through the process. A winner is expected to be picked no later than July 15th.
First was the presentation given by Bruce Ratner.
His proposal is a 229 million dollar project to renovate the Coliseum and turn the site into a sports and entertainment complex. All the costs would be paid for by the developers. Jay Z joined Ratner for the presentation and Jay Z's company Roc Nation entertainment company is associated with the Coliseum project and will help attract new acts.
photo courtesy of
http://www.thenichemovement.com/
The proposal calls for the Coliseum to be scaled down to 13,000 seats and can be downsized to 4,000 seats for smaller family shows. Along with the arena would be a 2,000 seat theater which would be similar to Live Nation's Fillmore Auditorium, a 2,500 seat outdoor amphitheater for concerts and summertime entertainment, up to six restaurants, a movie theater, and roughly 50,000 square feet of retail space.
The next presentation was given by Bernard Shereck of New York Sports LLC out of Bayville.
Shereck's presentation included that they would bring a minor league hockey team to the arena and that they are in talks with the National Lacross League based out of Manhattan to bring a New York based team to play at the Coliseum.
This proposal wouldn't alter the outside of the Coliseum, but 60-90 million dollars would be spent to alter the inside of the arena and would cut the seating to around 8,000-10,000.
The next proposal was given by Ed Blumenfeld.
This proposal would spend 180 million in private sector funding to tear down the existing Coliseum and build a new 9,000-12,000 seat arena. Blumenfeld would partner with current arena operators SMG on this proposal.
Along with the arena, they would build a 100,000 square foot convention center adjacent to the arena. They say their proposal would be anchored by an AHL team and if one wouldn't relocate to the arena, SMG VP of Business Development Robert Cavalieri said the group was prepared to purchase a team.
The final proposal came from the Madison Square Garden Group.
MSG would spend 250 million dollars in renovations which would result in a 14,500 seat arena. An entertainment complex modeled after the "Power Plant Live" development in Balitmores inner harbor would be built near by and operate all year.
MSG officials said that one of their teams, the New York Liberty of the WNBA, the Connecticut Whale (Rangers AHL affiliate), or the Erie Bayhawks the Knicks D-league team would play at the Coliseum.
The plan calls for the replacement of all seats and suites, the modernizing of the concourses and bathrooms, the creation of a lower level VIP section, and renovating the arena exterior.
For more details on each proposal check out the link below:
http://www.newsday.com/jay-z-helps-pitch-one-plan-for-nassau-coliseum-redevelopment-1.5183624?qr=1
Do you have a preferred proposal of the 4 above? If you do let us know in comments, or on twitter @savetheisles
photo courtesy of
http://snyislanders.files.wordpress.com/The image right above is Bruce Ratners vision for the Coliseum.
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