Groundbreaking marks beginning of Nassau Coliseum renovation

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (WABC) -- The renovation project of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has officially begun.

Officials broke ground on the project Thursday morning during a ceremony at the Uniondale arena.

That's been a long time coming most people will tell you.

Today begins a new era for the dilapidated, antiquated Nassau Coliseum.

"We'll have the Brooklyn Nets preseason games, we'll have boxing, we'll have minor league sports, 6 New York Islanders games," said Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive.

Construction on the $260 million private investment project can now get underway.

"Here we are right on time and in fact we wound up even improving and increasing the amount of money we're spending on this Coliseum," said Bruce Ratner, the developer.

Thursday, Eyewitness News got a look at some of the new renderings.

If you've been to the Barclay's Center it looks pretty similar.

Which isn't coincidental as the developers for this project also created the popular Brooklyn venue.

The entertainment offerings at the Nassau Coliseum will also be similar.

"Through our extensive booking department both in New York and in Los Angeles we plan to reintroduce the Coliseum to the music and entertainment industry," said Brett Yormark, of the Barclays Center.

For Islanders fans, who so desperately want their team back, the exciting news falls a little short.

"They got a lot of fans pretty upset with everything they've done. Like everything else, you have to sit back and wait. This is something that should have been done 20-25 years ago with all the owners we had," said George Davies, a Bay Shore resident.

"You can't give up hope. We don't think they belong in Brooklyn, but we'll see what happens," said Matthew Lembo, a Plainview resident.

Mangano says the new complex will employ 2,700 people.

It may not be hockey, but Friday developers say they'll be making a major announcement about a professional basketball team which will make the Coliseum its permanent home.

The new venue is set to open in the beginning of 2017.