5 BOROUGH SPORTS

(Associated Press) UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Officials on New York’s Long Island will ask voters this summer to approve a $400 million plan to build a new hockey arena next to the current home of the New York Islanders. Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced plans Wednesday to replace the aging Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum with a new arena next door. The plan requires $350 million in bonding over 30 years. Voters also will be asked to approve $50 million in bonds for a minor league baseball park nearby. The proposal is the latest in a series of efforts to renovate the coliseum and 77 acres of real estate surrounding it. Islanders owner Charles Wang proposed an ambitious $3.8 billion development in 2003, but it never got off the ground. The vote is Aug. 1.

Finally it looks like the Islanders can move forward. Since Wang took over the team, there have been constant failures on and off the ice. The lighthouse project was a complete disaster and there have even been many talks about the franchise moving out of New York. But if this proposal goes through, the Islanders will have one of the nicest arenas in the league. Even though I love the Coliseum, the franchise needs a new place in order to bring in more fans. Plus with a new minor league stadium, this will be one of the nicest entertainment complexes on the east coast. Overall, just a great day for Islanders fans.

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