Mike Francesa doesn’t talk about the Islanders much, but with the team set to host Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Lightning on Tuesday night, he laid into the organization during his show.
“They don’t know how to market, their PR people are lost, they don’t know how to market, and the rink is run by a bunch of clowns,” Francesa said after asking his producer what the atmosphere at Barclays Center would be like for Game 3. “So other than that I think otherwise they’re OK. So really, the hockey team is no problem, the rest of the structure, that’s why they have tickets for sale. Because you got a hot property there, you got a great player there, and you can’t get the building sold out because they don’t know how to market the team, they don’t know how to promote the team, and the people running the building are lost.
“So you add that up, and you got a good hockey team with a great player [John Tavares] . . . one of the five best players in the NHL at worst, a good, exciting team coming off a big series win for the first time since 1993, and they can’t sell the building out in their first playoff game at home. Embarrassing. But, look what you’re working with.”
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It’s actually the Islanders’ first playoff game at home this series — they went 2-1 at Barclays against the Florida Panthers in the opening round.
But it didn’t stop there. After returning from a commercial break, Francesa continued to ridicule the team for still having tickets — some of which he was giving away — available for Game 3.
“The Islanders have tickets for sale behind their bench tonight. What a disgrace in New York City for a playoff game. I mean, give me a break. Now we’re giving them away — these are for tonight . . . Way to create demand.
“And this has nothing to do with the players — the players are doing great. It’s the organization.”
..... - Newsday