Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
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| Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| Location | Uniondale, New York, U.S. |
| Broke ground | 1969 |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Closed | 2021 (as full-time arena) |
| Owner | Nassau County, New York |
| Operator | Nassau Live Center LLC |
| Former names | Nassau Coliseum (1972–2021) |
| Seating capacity | Basketball: 13,917, Ice hockey: 13,900, Concerts: 14,500 (post-renovation) |
| Tenants | New York Islanders (NHL) (1972–2015, 2018–2021), New York Nets (ABA/NBA) (1972–1977), New York Arrows (MISL) (1978–1984), New York Saints (NLL) (1989–2003), Long Island Nets (NBA G League) (2017–2021) |
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena located in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island. Opened in 1972, it was the primary home of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League for nearly five decades and also hosted the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association. The venue, often colloquially called "The Barn," became a cultural landmark for the region, hosting countless major concerts, sporting events, and family shows before closing as a full-time arena in 2021.
History
The arena's construction was approved by the Nassau County legislature in the late 1960s, with groundbreaking occurring in 1969. It was built to provide a modern home for the expansion New York Islanders franchise and to attract other professional teams to Long Island. Upon its opening in 1972, it quickly became the central entertainment venue for Nassau County and Suffolk County. The building's history is deeply intertwined with the Stanley Cup dynasty of the Islanders, who won four consecutive championships from 1980 to 1983. For decades, it competed with venues like Madison Square Garden and the Continental Airlines Arena for major events in the New York metropolitan area.
Design and features
Designed by the architectural firm Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury, the original structure was a circular, utilitarian design with a distinctive saddle-shaped roof supported by a central compression ring. Its interior was known for its intimate sightlines and loud, passionate crowds, particularly during New York Islanders games. A major feature was its large, center-hung scoreboard. The 2017 renovation, led by SHoP Architects, modernized the interior concourses, added new club spaces and luxury suites, and installed a state-of-the-art center-hung video board while deliberately preserving the building's iconic exterior silhouette and intimate bowl configuration.
Major events
Beyond professional sports, the Coliseum was a premier concert venue, hosting legendary acts like The Beatles (on their 1964 tour, at the adjacent temporary structure), Billy Joel, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, and Bruce Springsteen. It was a frequent stop on major tours, including those by The Rolling Stones, U2, and Grateful Dead. The arena hosted the 1974 ABA All-Star Game, the 1983 NHL All-Star Game, and the 1990 Goodwill Games. It was also the site of numerous NCAA men's basketball tournament games, World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view events like WrestleMania 2, and political rallies, including a 1992 campaign stop by President Bill Clinton.
Renovations and redevelopment
After decades of use and following the New York Islanders' temporary relocation to Barclays Center, the arena underwent a $165 million renovation from 2015 to 2017. The project, managed by Forest City Ratner Companies and later Onexim Group, aimed to modernize facilities while reducing seating capacity to enhance intimacy. Subsequent redevelopment plans for the surrounding Nassau Hub area, including proposed projects from RXR Realty and Scott Rechler, have envisioned a mix of residential, retail, and entertainment uses. The arena itself ceased full-time operations in 2021, transitioning to a limited event schedule as part of the broader Belmont Park redevelopment, which included the construction of UBS Arena.
Tenants
The Coliseum's primary and most famous tenant was the New York Islanders from their inception in 1972 until 2015, with a final return from 2018 to 2021. The New York Nets, led by Julius Erving, played there from 1972 until their move to New Jersey in 1977. Other professional tenants included the New York Arrows of the Major Indoor Soccer League, the New York Saints of the National Lacrosse League, and the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. The arena also hosted the New York Sets of World Team Tennis and was the original home of the New York Cosmos indoor soccer team.
Transportation and access
The arena is located on Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale, adjacent to the Mitchel Field complex. It was primarily served by the Hempstead Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, with a station at Mitchel Field within walking distance. Major roadways providing access include the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Northern State Parkway, and Wantagh State Parkway. The venue's location within Nassau County made it a central hub for residents across Long Island, though its lack of direct connection to New York City Subway lines emphasized its suburban character.
Category:Sports venues in New York (state) Category:Buildings and structures in Nassau County, New York Category:1972 establishments in New York (state)