Nassau Coliseum

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Lore & Background

The Coliseum earned the nickname "Fort Neverlose" from fans due to the Islanders' dominant home playoff record during their dynasty years. The team was 11–1 in Cup Final games at the Coliseum, with their only loss being a 1–0 setback in Game 1 in 1984 to the Edmonton Oilers. On February 8, 1983, the arena hosted the 35th NHL All-Star Game, where Wayne Gretzky scored four goals in the third period and was honored as the game's most valuable player. The first Islanders game at the Coliseum was on October 7, 1972, against the Atlanta Flames, with Morris Stefaniw scoring the first NHL goal in the building at 6:56 of the first period. The Islanders played their last game before moving to Barclays Center on April 27, 2015, beating the Washington Capitals 3–1 in Game 6 of the first round, with Cal Clutterbuck scoring the final NHL goal on an empty net at 19:07 of the third period. After renovations, the Islanders returned for a split schedule from 2018 to 2020, then played the 2020–21 season at the Coliseum. Their final game was on June 23, 2021, a 3–2 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals, with Anthony Beauvillier scoring the overtime goal.

In Their Own Story

The air inside was thick with anticipation on that cold March night in 1982. Thousands of voices merged into a single roar as the puck dropped for faceoff. The floodlights hummed overhead, casting long shadows across the pristine ice where players in blue and orange skated with purpose. Every slap shot echoed off the concrete walls, vibrating through the soles of boots in the upper deck. For ninety minutes, nothing existed but the game, the noise, and the hope that tonight would be another chapter in history.

Reader's Guide

The Nassau Coliseum is located in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island, adjacent to the Meadowbrook Parkway. It opened in 1972 and occupies 63 acres of Mitchel Field. The arena originally had a capacity of 13,000 to 15,000, increased to around 18,000 in the early 1980s. Before closing for renovations in 2015, it seated 16,170 for hockey. After renovations completed in April 2017, capacity was reduced to 13,917 for hockey. The New York Islanders played here from 1972 to 2015, then split their home schedule between Barclays Center and the Coliseum from 2018 to 2020, and played the 2020–21 season at the Coliseum before moving to UBS Arena. The building also hosted the New York Nets from 1972 to 1977, the New York Riptide from 2020 to 2024, and currently hosts the Long Island Nets.

Did You Know?

• The first event at the Coliseum was a New York Nets game against the Pittsburgh Condors on February 11, 1972.
• The Islanders' dominant home playoff record during the dynasty era earned the arena the nickname 'Fort Neverlose'.
• Wayne Gretzky scored four goals in the third period of the 35th NHL All-Star Game at the Coliseum on February 8, 1983.
• The Coliseum occupies 63 acres of Mitchel Field, a former Army airfield and later an Air Force base.
• The final NHL goal at the Coliseum was scored by Anthony Beauvillier in overtime on June 23, 2021, forcing a Game 7.

Origins and Architectural Evolution

Situated on 63 acres of the former Mitchel Field Army airbase in Uniondale, New York, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened in 1972. The venue is situated approximately 7 miles east of the eastern limits of Queens, adjacent to the Meadowbrook Parkway. It is one of the larger public auditoriums in the New York metropolitan area. The facility features a main arena spanning 44,000 square feet alongside an expansive 60,000-square-foot Expo Center. Originally capable of seating between 13,000 and 15,000 spectators, the venue underwent expansion in the early 1980s, boosting its maximum capacity to approximately 18,000. A major renovation project initiated in 2015 fundamentally altered the building's footprint. Upon reopening in April 2017, the Coliseum featured drastically reduced seating numbers, settling at 13,917 for hockey and 14,500 for basketball events.

The Islanders Dynasty and Fort Neverlose

The New York Islanders of the NHL played at the Coliseum from 1972 to 2015. The first Islanders game in the Coliseum was on October 7, 1972, as the Atlanta Flames visited. Flames forward Morris Stefaniw scored the first NHL goal in the building at 6:56 of the first period. The arena earned the nickname "Fort Neverlose" from fans in honor of the team's strong home record during the finals. The Islanders were 11–1 in Stanley Cup Final games at the Coliseum; their only loss was a 1–0 setback in Game 1 in 1984 to the Edmonton Oilers. On February 8, 1983, the arena hosted the 35th NHL All-Star Game, during which Wayne Gretzky scored four goals in the third period and was honored as the game's most valuable player. The Islanders played their last game at the Coliseum before moving to Barclays Center on April 25, 2015, beating the Washington Capitals 3–1 in Game 6 of the first round, with Cal Clutterbuck scoring the final NHL goal on an empty net at 19:07 of the third period. After renovations, the Islanders split their home schedule between Barclays and the renovated Coliseum from 2018 to 2020, and played the home portion of their 2020–21 season at the Coliseum. Their final game was on June 23, 2021, a 3–2 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals, with Anthony Beauvillier scoring the overtime goal.

Basketball History and Franchise Transitions

The Coliseum was home to the New York Nets of the ABA and later the NBA from 1972 to 1977. The first event at the Coliseum was a Nets game against the Pittsburgh Condors on February 11, 1972. The Nets won two ABA Championships in the Coliseum, with Hall of Famer Julius Erving headlining the team. In 1973–74 the Nets defeated the Utah Stars in five games to capture their first title. The Nets then captured the final American Basketball Association Championship in 1976, defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games. Following the 1976 season the Nets joined the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger. After their first season in the NBA, the Nets moved to New Jersey. In 2017, the venue became the new home of the Brooklyn Nets' NBA G League team, the Long Island Nets, who currently serve as the building's main tenant.

Defining Moments and Cultural Impact

The first NHL goal in the building was scored by Morris Stefaniw of the Atlanta Flames at 6:56 of the first period on October 7, 1972. The Islanders' first playoff win at the arena came on April 20, 1975, where they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2. On April 22, 1976, the Islanders earned their first playoff series victory at the arena by defeating the Buffalo Sabres 3–2, and winning the series 4–2. The Islanders were 11–1 in Stanley Cup Final games at the Coliseum, with their only loss a 1–0 setback in Game 1 in 1984 to the Edmonton Oilers. The Islanders played their last game before moving to Barclays Center on April 25, 2015, beating the Washington Capitals 3–1 in Game 6 of the first round. After renovations, the Islanders returned for a split schedule from 2018 to 2020, then played the 2020–21 season at the Coliseum. Their final game was on June 23, 2021, a 3–2 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals, with Anthony Beauvillier scoring the overtime goal. The Islanders became the third team to end their arena's history with a playoff victory.

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