Four new plans offered for redesign of Coliseum

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Madison Square Garden Company

Led by Hank Ratner, this group comprises MSG Sports, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media as well as the Cordish Companies, BBB Architects, RXR Realty and Jones Lang LaSalle. “Our group is uniquely qualified to create a world-class destination for Long Island,” said Ratner.

His group is willing to commit $250 million to redeveloping the Coliseum, Ratner said, which could begin immediately. “We plan to create a 21st century Coliseum," he said, "that will not only attract the widest arrays of tours, events and producers, but also deliver the first-class experience and amenities that today’s sports and entertainment customers demand.”

The group plans to build a 5-acre, 150,000-square-foot entertainment district  surrounding the Coliseum, called “Long Island Live!” including an MSG Zone, restaurants, bars, music venues and retail.

The group has restored other arenas and theaters, said Ratner, including recent revitalizations of Madison Square Garden as well as the Beacon Theatre and Radio City Music Hall.

“Thanks to our unique booking and production expertise, as well as our New York-area presence," Ratner said, "nobody can bring the quality, quantity and diversity of events that we can.”

The group also said it intends to bring one of its professional sports franchises to the Coliseum — the New York Liberty WNBA team, the Connecticut Whale minor league hockey team or the Erie Bayhawks NBA Development League team. The Knicks and Rangers would also hold practices at the facility.

Seating capacity would be reduced by 20 percent, and seats would be enlarged. The arena would have the ability to change “modes,” accommodating events ranging from a 1,700-seat amphitheater show to a 14,500-seat concert. In total, the arena would include 12 modes.

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