A $6 million state grant to renovate NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum for future Islanders games drew praise at a public hearing Thursday.
Hockey fans and some economic development advocates said the move to bring the team back temporarily to its former home would benefit local families and the economy.
The plan combines the state grant with $2.5 million the Islanders have committed to spend on upgrades that will bring the Coliseum into compliance with National Hockey League standards.
Representatives from Empire State Development, New York’s economic development agency, hosted the hearing. The agency, by law, is soliciting public feedback and must return to its board for reconsideration if there is community opposition, an official said.