Nassau Sewage Spill

The backstage area of Uniondale, N.Y.’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum sustained severe damage when a sewage pipe burst March 11th. Water started flooding a backstage hallway soon after the start of the night’s “Smuckers Stars on Ice” show.

The Coliseum is home to pro hockey’s New York Islanders, who were at an away game. The ceiling in the team’s workout room caved in, with debris and sewage crashing on top of treadmills, stationary bikes and other training equipment.

The Islanders described the incident as “devastating” and said the team’s workout room was almost destroyed. An early estimate put repair costs at more than $1 million.

“We’ve had plenty of problems over the last few years, but it’s usually stuff you can patch up – not this,” an unidentified venue employee said. “The flooding was out of control. When they finally got the Islanders’ locker room door open, you wouldn’t believe what it looked like in there.”

The flooding then spread into the Islanders’ dressing room. Workers wearing masks, boots and gloves spent three hours cleaning up the mess.

The incident marks the second time broken pipes have caused major damage to the dressing room in less than a year.

Repairs weren’t expected to be completed before the Islanders returned to the 17,000-seat venue to play against the Montreal Canadiens March 21st.

Meanwhile, Islanders owner Charles Wang wants a new arena and has received support from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Wang announced earlier this year that he is looking into an option to build a venue in Suffolk County if Nassau County doesn’t take action.

Nassau Coliseum officials weren’t available for comment at press time.