After a rocky season at Barclays Center, the New York Islanders are exploring the possibility of a new arena next to Citi Field, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
There was no hint of that development in comments made by Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky on July 13, when he said he expects the team to remain in Brooklyn long term.
"Barclays is our home," he said at a media luncheon.
Many fans and players were cool on Barclays Center last season. Obstructed sight lines and poor ice conditions unexpectedly greeted the Islanders in their first season away from Nassau Coliseum.
According to Bloomberg, the Islanders have been speaking with ownership of the New York Mets about building a hockey arena next to Citi Field in Queens if Ledecky's ownership group and Barclays officials can't agree on hockey-related improvements to the arena. Sterling Equities, which owns the Mets, also owns a stake in the Islanders.
Islanders ownership is also bothered by the fact that Barclays is small by NHL standards, with a capacity of 15,700 for hockey, according to Bloomberg. Only the Coyotes and Hurricanes drew fewer fans than the Islanders last season.
Barclays Center and the Islanders each have the option to opt out of their 25-year lease after the 2018-19 season.
Reached by ESPN, Barclays Center spokesman Barry Baum reiterated that Ledecky had said Barclays is the Islanders' home.
"Anyone who has any questions about how that has changed should take it up with Islanders ownership," he said.
"The Islanders will not comment on rumor or speculation," a team spokesman said Thursday.