New York Islanders, NHL
1535 Old Country Rd.
Plainview
(516) 501-6700
www.newyorkislanders.com

The history of this storied franchise is vast. Beginning as an expansion team in the 1972-73 season, they played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. An instant rival of the long time area team, the New York Rangers, the Isles did not make a dent until upsetting their NY brethren in the first round of the 1975 playoffs. The Islanders became a dynasty a few seasons later, winning four consecutive Stanley Cups starting in 1980. Only the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers prevented them from continuing their streak. They have never reached the heights of the glory years since. Current owner Charles Wang has made improvements, but former General Manager Mike Milbury made some questionable decisions that have left the team taking one step forward and two steps back. This season, the Islanders were in contention for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference until recently, where untimely losses have made it all but a formality that they will be left standing at the altar when the regular season concludes.

Long Island Rough Riders, USL 2nd Division
3 Courthouse Dr.
Central Islip, NY 11722
(631) 940-3825
www.liroughriders.com

The Rough Riders brought professional soccer to Long Island in 1994. In their second season, big name players such as Tony Meola, Giovanni Savarese and Jim Rooney led them to a 19-1 record and the league championship.

Long Island Ducks, Atlantic League
3 Court House Drive
Central Islip, NY 11722
(631) 940-DUCK
www.liducks.com

Born in 2000, the Ducks have become the model franchise in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Team owners Frank Boulton and former New York Met Bud Harrelson have given the fans on Long Island a wonderful product, and they have not disappointed. The 6,000 plus seats at Citibank (formerly EAB) Park in Central Islip are rarely empty, and the family atmosphere created by the staff is second to none. The team mascot, Quackerjack, is the Ducks’ most recognizable face, much to the chagrin of Harrelson and Justin Davies, the West Babylon native that has been with the team since day one. The excitement at the ballpark reached peak levels during the Ducks fifth anniversary season when they qualified for the playoffs for the first time and rode the momentum all the way to winning the league championship in 2004.

New York Dragons, Arena Football League
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1255 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, NY 11553
(516) 501-6700
www.newyorkdragons.com

New York Dragons, Arena Football League- Islanders owner Charles Wang acquired the Iowa Barnstormers AFL franchise in 2001 and relocated the franchise to the Nassau Coliseum. The name was changed to the New York Dragons and indoor football fans hoped that the franchise would last longer than the two failed attempts for arena football at Madison Square Garden (the New York Knights in 1988 and the New York City Hawks in 1997-1998.) The Dragons have had success since their move east, winning three consecutive Eastern Divisions.

Strong Island Sound, ABA
31 West Main Street
Suite 312
Patchogue, NY 11772
(631) 207-2227
www.strongislandsound.com

Professional basketball is back on Long Island, ABA style. The original American Basketball Association was considered the ‘maverick’ or the ‘outlaw’ league when it went up against the NBA from 1967-1976. The New York Nets were one of the flagship franchises and eventually merged along with three other ABA clubs with the NBA. Julius Erving, Dr. J to most people, was the face of the league and franchise. Local hoops fans had a long drought until the 2005-06 season when that familiar red, white, and blue basketball starting bouncing out east again. The Sound had a very successful inaugural season in the new version of the ABA, which is an independent minor league in its second go-round

Long Island Lizards, MLL
Mitchel Field
Charles Lindbergh Boulevard
Long Island, NY
(866) LIZARD-1
www.longislandlizards.com

In 2001, the Lizards were founded as a member of Major League Lacrosse and won the league championship their first season and once again in 2003. They have finished in first place in the American Division three times. They brought the popular sport of lacrosse to the professional ranks and look to continue to build on their success.