Forest City Ratner's Coliseum plan adds ice skating rink

Forest City Ratner Companies, one of four bidders seeking to overhaul the Nassau Coliseum and its surrounding property, has added an outdoor ice skating rink to its $229 million proposal.

Forest City Ratner's updated plan, expected to be released today at a breakfast meeting of a real estate developers group attended by all four bidders, calls for the rink to be located between the renovated Coliseum and several proposed new restaurants. In warmer months, the space would be used as an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and shows.

In a statement Tuesday, Forest City Ratner executive chairman Bruce Ratner described the area as a "flexible space for musical and cultural performances in the summer and ice skating activities in the winter."

Ratner's plan also calls for a 13,000-seat renovated arena, a 2,000-seat indoor theater, restaurants, a movie theater and retail space. A minor league American Hockey League team would relocate to the arena. The New York Islanders are scheduled to move from the Coliseum to Ratner's Barclays Center in Brooklyn beginning in 2015.

The Madison Square Garden Company would spend $250 million to renovate the Coliseum, which would have a seating capacity of 14,500 seats. A flexible seating design would allow sections of the arena to be cordoned off, reducing seating to 1,700. MSG also would build a 150,000-square-foot entertainment complex with restaurants, an Islanders-themed sports bar, bowling and billiards.

Syosset-based Blumenfeld Development Group would spend $180 million to demolish the existing Coliseum and build a new 9,000- to 12,000-seat arena. The plan calls for a 100,000-square-foot convention center, retail and office space, a bowling alley, movie theater and apartments for students and seniors.

Bayville-based New York Sports LLC submitted a plan costing $60 million to $90 million to refurbish the interior of the arena, which would have 8,000 to 10,000 seats. The firm would not develop the surrounding property.

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Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano is expected to select the winning proposal by July 15.

The county legislature must approve the contract with the winning bidder.

The Dolan family holds controlling interest in MSG

and owns Cablevision, Newsday's parent company.