Long Island Arena
Encyclopedia
Long Island Arena was a 4,000-seat indoor arena in Commack, New York
from 1959 until 1996. The Long Island Ducks
of the Eastern Hockey League
, a popular team in the small community, called the Arena home from 1959 until the league folded in 1973, one year after the New York Islanders
came into existence. The Long Island Cougars (an affiliate of the WHA
's Chicago Cougars
) also played at the Long Island Arena from 1973 through 1975.
From 1968-1969, the Commack Arena briefly served as the home of the New York Nets
of the American Basketball Association
. Before the team's move to Long Island, the then-New Jersey Americans had scheduled a game against the Kentucky Colonels
at the Commack Arena on March 23, 1968. The Americans and Colonels were tied in the standings, and a "play-in" game to determine who would qualify for the playoffs. The Americans were forced to move the game at the last minute because their normal home, the Teaneck Armory
, was booked with the circus. However, when the Colonels and Americans arrived at the arena, they found the court full of holes and laden with condensation from a Ducks hockey game the previous night. The court was also unstable. The Colonels refused to take the court under these conditions. The league ruled that the Americans had failed to provide acceptable facilities and forfeited the game to the Colonels, 2-0. The Long Island Ducks
of the Eastern Basketball Association also spent one season playing at Long Island Arena during 1977-1978.
Along with hockey and basketball, the Long Island Arena was used for ice skating, the circus, the Suffolk County Fair and concerts.
Peter Frampton
recorded part of his 6x platinum double album, Frampton Comes Alive, at the arena.
Former U.S. President
John F. Kennedy
made a visit to the arena on November 6, 1960 while campaigning for the presidency.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Long Island Arena housed a large, indoor flea market until the facility closed on July 31, 1996. A shopping center, consisting of Sports Authority
, Borders
bookstore, King Kullen
, and Target
, now stands on the former site of the arena, which was located on the south side of Veterans Highway
just west of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway
.
Commack, New York
Commack is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island...
from 1959 until 1996. The Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks (ice hockey)
The Long Island Ducks were a minor league hockey team in the Eastern Hockey League owned by Al and Renee Baron that played their home games at the Long Island Arena...
of the Eastern Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
, a popular team in the small community, called the Arena home from 1959 until the league folded in 1973, one year after the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
came into existence. The Long Island Cougars (an affiliate of the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
's Chicago Cougars
Chicago Cougars
The Chicago Cougars were an original franchise in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the dilapidated International Amphitheatre. During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals against Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros, the team's two home games were played at...
) also played at the Long Island Arena from 1973 through 1975.
From 1968-1969, the Commack Arena briefly served as the home of the New York Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
. Before the team's move to Long Island, the then-New Jersey Americans had scheduled a game against the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
at the Commack Arena on March 23, 1968. The Americans and Colonels were tied in the standings, and a "play-in" game to determine who would qualify for the playoffs. The Americans were forced to move the game at the last minute because their normal home, the Teaneck Armory
Teaneck Armory
Teaneck Armory at 1799 Teaneack Road is an armory and arena located on a site in Teaneck, New Jersey. A facility of the New Jersey National Guard, it is home to the Soccer Coliseum.-History:...
, was booked with the circus. However, when the Colonels and Americans arrived at the arena, they found the court full of holes and laden with condensation from a Ducks hockey game the previous night. The court was also unstable. The Colonels refused to take the court under these conditions. The league ruled that the Americans had failed to provide acceptable facilities and forfeited the game to the Colonels, 2-0. The Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks (basketball)
The Long Island Ducks were an American basketball team based in Commack, New York. They were a member of the Eastern Basketball Association and played their home games at the old Long Island Arena. The owner of the team was the late Al Baron, prior owner of the Long Island Ducks minor league...
of the Eastern Basketball Association also spent one season playing at Long Island Arena during 1977-1978.
Along with hockey and basketball, the Long Island Arena was used for ice skating, the circus, the Suffolk County Fair and concerts.
Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
recorded part of his 6x platinum double album, Frampton Comes Alive, at the arena.
Former U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
made a visit to the arena on November 6, 1960 while campaigning for the presidency.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the Long Island Arena housed a large, indoor flea market until the facility closed on July 31, 1996. A shopping center, consisting of Sports Authority
Sports Authority
The Sports Authority, Inc. is one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States. It is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and operates more than 460 stores in 45 U.S...
, Borders
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
bookstore, King Kullen
King Kullen
King Kullen Grocery Co. is an American supermarket chain with 45 stores, on Long Island and Staten Island. The company is headquartered in Bethpage, New York and was founded by Michael J. Cullen in 1930. It is notable for its title of "America's First Supermarket" as recognized by the Smithsonian...
, and Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, now stands on the former site of the arena, which was located on the south side of Veterans Highway
New York State Route 454
New York State Route 454 , also known as the Suffolk County Veterans' Memorial Highway, is a east–west divided highway in western and central Suffolk County on Long Island in New York. It spans from NY 25 in Commack to NY 27 north of Patchogue...
just west of the Sunken Meadow State Parkway
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
The Sunken Meadow State Parkway is a long north–south parkway on Long Island in New York. All six miles of the parkway are located in the Suffolk County town of Smithtown. The southern terminus of the route is at the Northern State Parkway, where it continues southward as the Sagtikos...
.