Islanders reportedly explore alternate arena near Citi Field

After a rocky season at the Barclays Center, the New York Islanders are exploring the possibility of a new arena next to Citi Field, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

There was no hint of that development in comments made by Islanders co-ownerJon Ledecky on July 13, when he said that he expects the team to remain in Brooklyn long term.

"Barclays is our home," he said at a media luncheon.

Many fans and players were cool on the Barclays Center last season. Obstructed sight lines and poor ice conditions were not what were expected for the Islanders first season away from the Nassau Coliseum.

According to Bloomberg, the Islanders have been speaking with ownership of the New York Mets about building a hockey arena next to Citi Field in Queens if Ledecky's ownership group and Barclays officials can't agree on hockey-related improvements to the arena.Sterling Equities, which owns the Mets, also owns a stake in the Islanders.

Islanders ownership is also bothered by the fact that Barclays is small by NHL standards, according to Bloomberg. Only the Coyotes and Hurricanes drew fewer fans than the Islanders last season.

The Barclays Center and the Islanders each have the option to opt out of their 25-year lease after the 2018-19 season.

Reached by ESPN, Barclays center spokesman Barry Baum reiterated that Ledecky had said that Barclays is the Islanders home.

"Anyone who has any questions about how that has changed should take it up with Islanders ownership," he said.