The Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship and Partnership Marketing with the New York Islanders is excited about the team moving to Brooklyn in 2015.
After all, the just-opened Barclays Center will present the money-losing team with new corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities. Which is something you’d expect the Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship and Partnership Marketing to be excited about.
Of course, that same person also scored hundreds of goals and won four Stanley Cups playing at Nassau Coliseum, so there’s some sadness too.
His name is Mike Bossy, by the way.
Bossy spoke with SportsBusiness Journal recently about the club’s move to Brooklyn after next season.
“There’s no doubt that it’s a big move, in the sense that, as I tell people, we’re moving 20 miles from Nassau Coliseum,” Bossy said. “But I think it’s a world of difference. As far as I’m concerned in my role, it’s going to open up a lot of new and different opportunities for the Islanders. There’s a whole bunch of different corporate sponsors that we will be able to approach, not only because of our location, but I think because of the beautiful building that we’re moving to.
“In the back of my mind of course I’m a bit nostalgic and feel for the Long Island fans who are disappointed that their team is moving to Brooklyn. There’s no doubt that I made my name, I am who I am today, because of this building and the team that I played on in this building and the four Stanley Cups that we won.”
It should be interesting to see if the Islanders can turn business around in their new location. Even with a star like John Tavares, it’ll be tough to get back to Stanley Cup contention without increasing their payroll. Owner Charles Wang had an excuse to pinch pennies in the team’s current location. In a brand new building, the fans will expect more.
