Islanders' Buyers Look to Ease Transition for Fans

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The Islanders' future owners, Jonathan Ledecky and Scott Malkin, preached patience on Wednesday when they met the news media, two years before they take official control of the team.

'We are going to spend the next two years listening to our fans, finding out how we can enhance their experience so that our loyal and devoted base has a smooth transition to Brooklyn,' Mr. Ledecky said at Nassau Coliseum, where he and Mr. Malkin were joined by the Islanders' owner, Charles B. Wang, and General Manager Garth Snow. 'We're on a mission to learn and absorb.'

Mr. Wang announced in August that he would sell the Islanders to Mr. Ledecky, a former minority owner of the Washington Capitals, and Mr. Malkin, a London-based retail center investor. The sale, for a reported $485 million, was approved by the N.H.L. Board of Governors on Sept. 30.

Now that the Islanders have started their 43rd and final season at the Coliseum - where sightlines from nearly every seat are excellent - reality has set in. Barclays Center (capacity 15,795), where the Islanders will begin play next season, has fewer seats for hockey than the Coliseum does (16,170) and was not built with hockey in mind. Hundreds of seats have partly obstructed views.

But Barclays will have many more luxury suites than the Coliseum does and will provide the opportunity to draw hockey fans from the fresh base of Brooklyn.

Mr. Wang, 70, was ebullient, knowing he would be there to guide the transition for the team and its management group.

'I wanted to stay on because this is still the Islanders, my baby in many ways,' said Mr. Wang, who, under the deal, retains a minority ownership when the transition is completed for the 2016-17 season. 'It was a mutual decision for me to stay.'

Mr. Wang has maintained plans to keep the Islanders' name and blue, orange and white color pattern (the colors of Nassau County) in Brooklyn.

The challenge to mine new fans will be a test for the new owners and Brett Yormark, the chief executive of the Nets and Barclays Center, which will give the Islanders a portion of the revenue generated by suites used during hockey games.

'We're going to try to do something special this year to say, 'This is what the Islanders are really about,' ' Mr. Wang said. 'We have a good team, and there is much to look forward to. Now that we're close to moving to Brooklyn, everyone can see it.'

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