Fifteen years ago, the Islanders’ future on Long Island came down to a Nassau County vote - and the result left the franchise scrambling.
On Aug. 1, 2011, voters were asked to approve a $400 million referendum that would have paid for a replacement to the aging Nassau Coliseum. Charles Wang, the team’s late owner, pushed the plan hard.
It wasn’t just about a new rink, either. The proposal also called for a minor league baseball stadium, a convention center and retail development meant to turn the Coliseum property into an all-day, all-year destination.
The public said no.
The measure went down 57-43 percent, a crushing blow that left the Islanders without a long-term answer with four years still left on their lease at Nassau Coliseum.
The day itself worked against the project. Severe weather rolled through Long Island, which hurt turnout, and Long Island Rail Road delays made it tougher for fans to get to the polls. Thousands of Islanders supporters showed up in blue and orange to back the plan, but they were still outnumbered by voters who weren’t willing to sign off on what many saw as a tax hike.
Backers of the referendum argued the price tag had been overstated. Opponents pointed to an estimated $58 annual cost per household, while supporters said the real impact would have been closer to $13 once projected revenues were included. They also made the case that the project would have created thousands of construction jobs and delivered a broader economic boost for Nassau County.
Wang took the loss hard.
"I have to tell you that I'm disappointed," Wang said after the vote. "To tell you bluntly, I'm heartbroken."
Even after that setback, Wang did not pursue a move to places like Kansas City or Quebec City. He kept looking for a way to keep the Islanders in the New York area, and that search eventually led to Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It wasn’t a perfect setup, but it served as the team’s temporary home until UBS Arena opened a decade later.
Fifteen years on, that failed referendum looks less like the end of the road and more like a turning point - one of the key moments that ultimately led the Islanders to their permanent home at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.
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