Nassau Coliseum To Begin Allowing Spectators
New York Islanders will allow fans beginning March 11
Along with other New York sports arenas, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will soon welcome fans back through its doors. Following an announcement made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Feb. 10, the Coliseum has prepared to re-open safely in conjunction with its National Hockey League (NHL) tenant, the New York Islanders.
Islanders’ Statement
The Islanders released a statement on Wednesday outlining guidelines to allow fans.
The first game with fans will be on March 11 when the Islanders welcome 1,000 workers from partner hospital Northwell Health to take in their matchup with the New Jersey Devils. Their next home game on March 18 against the Philadelphia Flyers will be open to season ticket holders. Priority will go to holders who have had their accounts the longest. This season is the last one that fans will be able to watch an Islanders game at the Coliseum. The team will be moving to UBS Arena when the 2021–22 campaign kicks off in October. That stadium is currently being built at Belmont Park.
Meaning For Fans
Many people who have followed the Islanders at any point in their history have been to Nassau Coliseum. Some, like Uniondale resident Andrew Gagnon, many times. He has rarely gone this long without a trip to what fans call “The Barn” but the anticipation is high. “I am ecstatic to go to a game,” Gagnon said. “As a season ticket holder, I take a lot of pride in supporting my team night in and night out. Finally being able to go back to the Nassau Coliseum provides a sense of normalcy and I cannot wait until March 18.” Gagnon attended the last game Nassau Coliseum saw with fans; March 7, 2020.
Safety Concern
As with any indoor gathering, there will be safety concerns when fans enter the Coliseum, even at 10% capacity. While other arenas, like Madison Square Garden, are already open to fans, the Coliseum has taken some extra time to prepare and help attendees feel safe. “I think the Coliseum and the Islanders have done everything in their power to make it as safe as possible,” Gagnon said. “I read the FAQ sheet on their website, and it outlined most of the health and safety protocols. I feel safe going to Islanders games again.”
At 10% capacity, there should be plenty of room for spectators to socially distance. “The Coliseum is very spacious,” said Matt Cosola, a pre-PA student at Hofstra Unversity. “There should be no issue putting space in between this many people in this large stadium.”
In his statement on Feb. 10, Cuomo outlined stricter requirements for arenas to host fans including proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event, mask mandates and enhanced ventilation and filtration standards.
These strict specifications will allow for a safe experience for all. “The risk of being infected with COVID 19 at this venue is pretty low,” Cosola said. “The only thing that would increase the risk of being infected with the virus is if fans decide to be irresponsible and remove their masks in the stadium or breach social distancing guidelines.”
Effect on Local Businesses
While inside the Coliseum, vendors will return to seeing patrons, restaurants and bars nearby will once again serve out-of-town Islanders fans and they are excited to get more business. “I expect an increase in traffic,” Katie Claus, general manager of The Greene Turtle, said. “I’m not sure what that increase will be but we’re very excited to have Islanders’ fans back in ‘The Turtle.’”
These local businesses will rely on their protocols to continue to stay safe even with more traffic. “I wouldn’t be overly concerned because we follow all protocols here and we make sure all of our guests do the same,” Claus said. “It’s about the safety as much as anything else these days.”
