A timeline of the Nassau Hub
Browse a chronology of events spanning the life of the area in Nassau County known as Nassau Hub from 1961 to 2025. Read more about the decades of failed proposals here and tell us your vision for the future of the property here.
NEWSDAY AT THE FORE
1962: Newsday founder and publisher Alicia Patterson convinces President John F. Kennedy to permanently close Mitchel Field for aviation because of the dangers to a growing suburban population.
A sign on on the Mitchel Field aviation property in 1962. Credit: Newsday
NCC'S NEW HOME
1962: Part of Mitchel Field becomes home of Nassau Community College, enrolling 3,000 students.
Aerial of Mitchel Field looking west from Nassau Community College. Credit: Newsday/Alan Raia
NASSAU COUNTY TAKES OVER MITCHEL FIELD
1963: The federal land is turned over to Nassau County for development.
The hangar on the east side of Mitchel Field before Nassau County took over. Credit: Newsday/John Curran
LBJ ATTENDS DEDICATION
1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson attends dedication of the planned John F. Kennedy Cultural Center at Mitchel Field, with plans for a concert hall, fine arts gallery, social center and library. Nothing comes to fruition.
President Johnson at Nassau Community College in Mitchel Field on May 9, 1964. Credit: Newsday File Photo/Cliff De Bear
COLISEUM PLAN UNVEILED
1964: County officials approve plans for a municipal arena.
Progress shot of construction at the Nassau Coliseum in 1970. Credit: Newsday/George Argeroplos
COLISEUM OPENS
1972: Nassau Coliseum opens with a New York Nets-Pittsburgh Condors basketball game.
View of the Nassau Coliseum under construction in 1970. Credit: Newsday/Tom Maguire
AVIATION MUSEUM BORN
1980: Cradle of Aviation Museum opens in unfinished hangars.
OFFICE BUILDINGS SPROUT
1984: EAB Plaza, later called RXR Plaza, is completed.
RXR Plaza. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
MINI-DOWNTOWN PROPOSED
1996: Nassau officials propose a mini-downtown, with restaurants, movie theater and video game arcade, along with a new arena, at what is now called the Hub. Nothing comes to fruition
NEW ISLANDERS' ARENA
1998: Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta proposes building a new arena for the New York Islanders, and transforming the Coliseum into a convention center. Nothing comes to fruition.
WANG'S 'LIGHTHOUSE' PROPOSAL
2004: Islanders owner Charles Wang unveils the Lighthouse Project, a $3.8 billion effort backed by County Executive Tom Suozzi, which would add a renovated arena, 2,300 housing units, office and retail space, and luxury hotel. Developer Scott Rechler becomes Wang's partner.
A rendering of the Lighthouse proposal. Credit: HANDOUT/Handout
LIGHTHOUSE HEARINGS HELD
2009: Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray holds zoning hearings on Lighthouse. The town never approves the zoning.
A rendering showing a portion of the Lighthouse Project. Credit: Handout
MANGANO PROPOSES CASINO
2010: Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano unveils a proposal to partner with the Shinnecocks and build a casino at the Hub. Nothing comes to fruition.
MONTI NAMED 'MASTER DEVELOPER'
2012: Mangano asks for new Hub proposals. Renaissance Downtowns developer Don Monti is chosen as “master developer.” Nothing comes to fruition.
ISLANDERS DECIDE TO LEAVE
2012: Team blames aging arena for planned move to Brooklyn.
TWO DEVELOPERS, LAWSUITS
2013: Mangano launches a competitive process to renovate the Coliseum, selecting Bruce Ratner who partners with developer Ed Blumenfeld. The two eventually sue each other.
Rendering of the future Nassau Veteran Memorial Coliseum, Nassau County HUB Project plan. Credit: Handout
RATNER BEGINS RENOVATION
2015: Ratner breaks ground on a renovation of Nassau Coliseum.
Aerial views of Nassau Coliseum taken April 18, 2015. Credit: Kevin Coughlin.FlyingDogPhotos.c/Kevin Coughlin
NYCB LIVE OPENS
2017: A renovated Coliseum, branded as NYCB Live, opens.
NYCB Live during a Billy Joel Concert on its opening night after renovation. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
A NEW COLISEUM VISION
2018: A new leaseholder BSE Global partners with Rechler to unveil a new vision for the Hub including housing, research and development, a new hotel, restaurants and retail. Nothing comes to fruition.
A planned $1.5 billion mixed-use development for the empty asphalt surrounding NYCB Live. Credit: RXR, BSE Global
CANCER TREATMENT CENTER OPENS
2019: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center opens a new outpatient treatment center.
The exterior of the new Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Nassau, in Uniondale, April 4, 2019. Credit: Linda Rosier
NEW COLISEUM TENANT HAS BAGGAGE
2020: After the lease changes hands again, Nick Mastroianni II holds the keys, along with a $100 million loan on the Coliseum.
RECHLER REVIVES PROPOSAL
2021: Rechler revives plans for a mix of housing, retail and entertainment; offers a plan to break ground by 2022. Nothing comes to fruition.
An aerial view of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in June 2021. Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
LAS VEGAS SANDS PLANS CASINO RESORT
2023: County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Las Vegas Sands announce plans to develop a casino resort.
SANDS BECOMES NEW COLISEUM LEASEHOLDER
2023: Las Vegas Sands pays Mastroianni $241 million to acquire lease and resolve the outstanding debt.
A rendering of the proposed Las Vegas Sands casino resort at Nassau Coliseum. Credit: The Sands Corp.
SANDS DROPS OUT
2025: County and town approve environmental review and zoning months after Sands pulls out of casino licensing process.
YOU ARE HERE: Nowhere.
MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD are experienced journalists who offer reasoned opinions, based on facts, to encourage informed debate about the issues facing our community.
