As the New York Islanders prepare to leave Nassau Coliseum, the legendary stadium that was home to the 1980’s dynastic team, iconic players from the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup run are celebrating its legacy in a new way.
Bryan Trottier (who won four Cups with the Isles and two more with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and won several player trophies) and blue-liner Denis Potvin (a career Islander who also won four Cups, three Norris trophies, and broke Bobby Orr’s record for most goals by a defenseman) have teamed up with Flux88 and Fanaply to launch a collection of digital collectibles and experiences that are up for auction.
Launched August 31, the collection–called “Closing the Barn“–includes art designed by noted visual artist Kevin Briones, audio commentary from the legends and once-in-a lifetime fan experiences.
Briones’ illustrations depict Trottier and Potvin on the ice at Nassau Coliseum, and each drawing comes with an array of offerings, based on a tiered approach to betting. The top-billed item, the gold package, is built around the opportunity to spend time with Potvin and Trottier, with the tiers (depending on the final auction price) including an opportunity for a shared meal with the two legends to spending an entire curated weekend with the iconic Isles.
“Being able to commemorate some of our favorite memories, in our own words, really is a game changer in the collectibles space. It gives us the chance to stay in the game and gives the fans an opportunity to own their own piece of history,” said Denis Potvin.
“The future of sports collectives will undoubtedly be in the digital world, and we’re excited to add some of our favorite memories to the mix,” added Bryan Trottier.
The tiers for the gold package are built out as follows:
- $2,000 – $4,999 = Winner will also get an exclusive video call with Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier
- $5,000 – $9,999 = Winner will also get an activity with Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier like 9 holes of golf, fly fishing, a meal or attend an Islanders game at the newly minted UBS Arena
- $10,000 – $24,999 = Winner will also get a day with Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier to play 18 holes of golf and have dinner, or a similar activity that works for everyone
- $25,000+ = The winner will also get a curated weekend of experiences with Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier
Prices for other items start at just $40, but each comes with a drawing of Trottier and/or Potvin, and other options include audio recordings of the two sharing stories about Nassau Coliseum.
“Bringing limited-edition digital assets to the fans of NHL legends like Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier is central to Fanaply’s belief that NFTs are the future of fan engagement,” said Grant Dexter, co-founder and CEO of Fanaply. “They allow fans to commemorate amazing moments, milestones and experiences of the teams, games, venues and communities they love through ownership in a unique digital collectible. Our NFTs are inclusive, environmentally friendly and can create real fan engagement in real life by unlocking real-world rewards.”
After going all the way to the Stanley Cup semifinals two years in a row, the Islanders are bidding adieu to Nassau Coliseum–lovingly nicknamed “The Barn”–and relocating nearby to UBS Arena, slated to host the Islanders’ first home game this November. Many of the club’s currently players, including Anthony Beauvillier, Mathew Barzal and Oliver Wahlstrom paying homage to the Nassau Coliseum on Instagram.
As the Islanders prepare for their inaugural season at UBS Arena, they finally made huge news, resigning key parts of their roster, including forwards Beauvillier, Kyle Palmieri and Casey Cizikas, as well as goalie Ilya Sorokin, to new contracts. Each played games at Nassau Coliseum, of course, and hope to bring the Isles’ legacy to their new home.