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Stranded: New York Islanders to be kicked out of Barclays Center

By The Sports Xchange
New York Islanders goalie Jean-Francois Berube (30) watches the puck bounce off his chest in the third period of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 shoot-out win at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on March 15, 2016. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
1 of 3 | New York Islanders goalie Jean-Francois Berube (30) watches the puck bounce off his chest in the third period of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 shoot-out win at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on March 15, 2016. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

It appears the New York Islanders are on the verge of being stranded without a home.

After hosting the Islanders since 2015, the Barclays Center ownership group determined that the team will not bring in any revenue beyond the 2018-19 season and is prepared to end the partnership, Bloomberg reports.

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Average attendance for Islanders games at the arena is 12,828, the third-lowest total in the NHL. Fans have reported poor sightlines from their seats and players have complained about poor ice conditions.

The Islanders moved to the newly-built Barclays Center in 2015 after playing at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island since 1972. The team has no intention of moving back to Long Island, per the report.

Islanders owners Jonathan Ledecky and Scott Malkin are reportedly considering building a new arena adjacent to Citi Field in Queens, home of the New York Mets.

The team's relationship with the Barclays Center is unusual in that the arena pays the Islanders an average annual sum of $53.5 million for control of business operations including ticket and suite sale.

Either side can terminate the agreement. Should the Islanders back out of the deal, they would be able to leave after next season. If Barclays pulls the plug, the Islanders could stay until after the 2018-19 campaign.

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New York (21-17-9, 51 points) is sixth out of eight teams in the Metropolitan Division standings and 11th in the Eastern Conference.

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