BD Gallof: Wang Loyal To A Fault, But There Was No Fault In His Loyalty to Long Island

BD Gallof: Wang Loyal To A Fault, But There Was No Fault In His Loyalty to Long Island
- B.D. Gallof

Serious question : How is it that new ownership is ok with building just an arena, and yet when Charles Wang was told to scale down his lighthouse project he wouldn't agree to it. My question is basically how is it ok for the new ownership to have basically just an arena without much supplemental income, and Wang would only agree to build a "mini city"? I seem to remember a time when the TOH was willing to acquiesce with a new arena if it was just the arena and not all the other revenue streams, i.e condos, restaurants, ballparks, hotels, bars etc etc etc.

Well written and nicely put. Thank you, Charles and RIP.

Serious question : How is it that new ownership is ok with building just an arena, and yet when Charles Wang was told to scale down his lighthouse project he wouldn't agree to it. My question is basically how is it ok for the new ownership to have basically just an arena without much supplemental income, and Wang would only agree to build a "mini city"? I seem to remember a time when the TOH was willing to acquiesce with a new arena if it was just the arena and not all the other revenue streams, i.e condos, restaurants, ballparks, hotels, bars etc etc etc.
- kindlyrick

Nassau county and Town of Hempstead got in the way. Belmont is state-owned property.

Nassau county and Town of Hempstead got in the way. Belmont is state-owned property.
- bgainesDM

How does that change the fact that building JUST a new arena now is ok, but 10 years ago, they wanted a mini city or nothing?

How does that change the fact that building JUST a new arena now is ok, but 10 years ago, they wanted a mini city or nothing?
- kindlyrick

LHP was a partnership with Scott Rechler of RXR

Belmont is with Oakview Group and Isles owners.

Differences and $$$ has to do with allocations of funds between partners.

LHP was a partnership with Scott Rechler of RXR

Belmont is with Oakview Group and Isles owners.

Differences and $$$ has to do with allocations of funds between partners.
- B.D. Gallof

Im not sure that makes any sense to me. The LHP was denied basically because it was too large, and the TOH asked Charles Wang to scale back the project which he didn't do. Now the new ownership is ok with just building a new arena and not include all the extras, condos, hotels, ball park etc etc. So again, i'll ask why is it ok for the new ownership to JUST build the arena, but it wasn't profitable enough I guess for Charles Wang. Partnerships and allocations are irrelevant in this scenario, as the question isn't about subsidizing, but rather overall money out vs money in.

My question is merely being posed as I see a lot of praise for the isles being kept on long island. My point I guess is that the TOH did offer to have Wang scale back the mini city LHP, and that was refused, thus forcing the isles to move to Brooklyn. The move to Brooklyn was obviously about pumping up the teams value for sale. Had Charles Wang agreed to scale down the LHP, and or just built a new arena, the isles could be playing in a brand new arena in Uniondale as we speak

Im not sure that makes any sense to me. The LHP was denied basically because it was too large, and the TOH asked Charles Wang to scale back the project which he didn't do. Now the new ownership is ok with just building a new arena and not include all the extras, condos, hotels, ball park etc etc. So again, i'll ask why is it ok for the new ownership to JUST build the arena, but it wasn't profitable enough I guess for Charles Wang. Partnerships and allocations are irrelevant in this scenario, as the question isn't about subsidizing, but rather overall money out vs money in.

My question is merely being posed as I see a lot of praise for the isles being kept on long island. My point I guess is that the TOH did offer to have Wang scale back the mini city LHP, and that was refused, thus forcing the isles to move to Brooklyn. The move to Brooklyn was obviously about pumping up the teams value for sale. Had Charles Wang agreed to scale down the LHP, and or just built a new arena, the isles could be playing in a brand new arena in Uniondale as we speak
- kindlyrick

Though it was denied as too large, the belief is it was due to the added housing that ToH feared would create a democratic pocket in their little right-wing Shangri-la.

The real estate portion of LHP was important to the plan.

ToH tried to pretend Charles wouldn't budge, but at the time I was tweeting and writing about meetings he had with Kate Murray to push it along. Their principles then wrangled over items behind closed doors. But it never got to a vote. ToH wouldn't let it.

To say Wang did not scale down the lighthouse project would be incorrect. He scaled it down twice. He then had the referendum which included a state of the art Track and field complex at Mitchell field. He guaranteed it would generate a certain amount of income to make it even less of a risk for Nassau county.

The bottom line was when Suozzi and the Democrats tried to get it done. Kate Murray and the GOP kaboshed it.

then when Mangano and the republicans tried to get it done. The Dems crushed it.. I got 200 phone calls a day the month of the referendum vote all from D.C. They were all Democrat Lobbyists preventing Mangano from getting that feather in his cap.

"you want to give a billionaire an arena with your tax dollars..... vote no on the referendum".

Whole thing was a terrific example of how the politicians don't give a sht about the county. They only care about their party and their votes.

Serious question : How is it that new ownership is ok with building just an arena, and yet when Charles Wang was told to scale down his lighthouse project he wouldn't agree to it. My question is basically how is it ok for the new ownership to have basically just an arena without much supplemental income, and Wang would only agree to build a "mini city"? I seem to remember a time when the TOH was willing to acquiesce with a new arena if it was just the arena and not all the other revenue streams, i.e condos, restaurants, ballparks, hotels, bars etc etc etc.
- kindlyrick

Wang wanted to make money. He’s a businessman and he had every right to try. He bought the team for the land, for the inside track to develop the hub. An arena alone, in that location, apparently would not allow Wang to make money and recoup his losses.

History has shown that it was a mistake for the TOH not to play ball. Look at it now: the hub is the same 73-acre dump it was when they killed the lighthouse, only now the arena has less seats and looks like a metal slinky on its side. It has no anchor tenant and the county and TOH have lost vital tax revenue due to the TOH position.

State land and The Governer wants it on his look what I did list.

Wang wanted to make money. He’s a businessman and he had every right to try. He bought the team for the land, for the inside track to develop the hub. An arena alone, in that location, apparently would not allow Wang to make money and recoup his losses.

History has shown that it was a mistake for the TOH not to play ball. Look at it now: the hub is the same 73-acre dump it was when they killed the lighthouse, only now the arena has less seats and looks like a metal slinky on its side. It has no anchor tenant and the county and TOH have lost vital tax revenue due to the TOH position.
- Jethro09

I hear what you're saying, but the blame can be had on both sides. OBVIOUSLY the TOH (like most politicians) are only interested in their votes. They failed with the LHP as seen by the current state. HOWEVER, the argument about Wang not being able to make money with just an arena in uniondale, but somehow the new ownership is able to with just an arena in Elmont (after spending half a billy goat on the team and then now building the arena is ridiculous. The truth is Wang was being greedy and wanted only what he wanted. To me both scenarios are very similar.

The notion that Wang moved the team to Brooklyn because of his loyalty to long island is a stretch. The move to Brooklyn inflated the teams value by a not so coincidental similar number to the losses he took on over the years. Well within his rights, and shrewd move...….but it had nothing to do with the fans or keeping this team on the island ( a savior if you will).

Though it was denied as too large, the belief is it was due to the added housing that ToH feared would create a democratic pocket in their little right-wing Shangri-la.

The real estate portion of LHP was important to the plan.

ToH tried to pretend Charles wouldn't budge, but at the time I was tweeting and writing about meetings he had with Kate Murray to push it along. Their principles then wrangled over items behind closed doors. But it never got to a vote. ToH wouldn't let it.
- B.D. Gallof

The fear of "democratic housing" which we all know what that means, in Uniondale is laughable

The fear of "democratic housing" which we all know what that means, in Uniondale is laughable
- kindlyrick

whenever Uniondale has items to be voted on buses from the condo communities always come to "even the playing field" and try to deep-six the school budget. It is a constant battle of partisanship and just a current example of what goes on there.

kindlyrick must be kate murray either that or he has an agenda.

charles Wang lost by all accounts between100-150M the time he bought the team and sold the stake to ledecky and Malkin. for years he got screwed by flyers owner ed snider who also owned SMG who held the NVMC lease. wang never received a dime of parking or concessions,

kindlyrick is point blank either the ultimate Moron, since he wasnt aware of the facts or he was aware but he is a deceitful wiener, my opinion is the latter. because most REAL ISLANDER FANS are aware of these facts. nassau politicos did everything humanly possible to drive the Isles away.'

Admitedly Wang wasnt the best owner, he had some outrageous ideas about how a team should be run like the ill fated committee, BUT despite his flaws, he and he alone is the reason we still have a team on long Island. nobody ever did him any favors.

the Republicans AND The Democrats used the Isles as a political football and lied left and right, The NHL allowed Ed Snider the flyers owner to bleed away revenues that should have belonged to the team, How they allowed the owner of another league franchise to do that was abominable

so while I know Charles wasnt the best owner he certainly was an Islander fans best friend, because without charles, this team would be in Kansas City or in another city.

Kindlyrick as I say is either the most ignorant human being to ever walk the face of this earth, or he is pushing an agenda....having personally seen the Nassau Politicos in action and the lengths they will go to for graft and payola, I believe kindly rick is full of poop

I frankly dont believe a Word kindlyrick says, because no one could be that ignorant. no one. Malkin is a billionaire and the size of hiis fortune dwarfs that of Charles Wang and Gary Bettman is much more honest than John Ziegler was.
Bettman stood up to Ed Snider, where Ziegler didnt. so take your lies and half truths and shove them where the sun dont shine. your opinion is as dirty as nassau politics