Report: Nassau Coliseum workers receive termination letters
Nassau Coliseum employees have been issued termination notices this week that they will be laid off this summer, according to multiple reports.
The Islanders are currently playing the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. New York will move from Nassau Coliseum, where the team has played since 1972, to Brooklyn's Barclays Center ahead of the 2015-16 season.
The news regarding termination notices was first reported by Newsday, while ESPN confirmed the report that more than 40 full-time and 2,500 part-time employees received notification letters this week. The arena will close this summer for renovations, led by Brooklyn Nets minority owner and real-estate developer Bruce Ratner.
"It's as real as it is," one worker told ESPN.com of the notification.
The layoffs are set to occur on July 31, on which date the lease between Spectator Management Group and Nassau County expires.
Though the Coliseum is expected to re-open in 2016, ESPN reported that employees were anxious they would not be re-hired.
The Islanders currently lead the Capitals 2-1 in their best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Nassau Coliseum.
- Jeremy Woo