Quoting a source, a Newsday report refutes claims that the New York Mets are working with a real estate firm in the club's attempt to lure the NHL's New York Islanders to Queens.
Fanhouse.com published a report on Monday that the Queens-based Mets have hired Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate firm involved with the Madison Square Garden renovations. But a Newsday source indicated the Mets have no interest in working with them -- telling the paper: "They have not been hired and they will not be hired."
The Fanhouse article reported the collaboration was "to strategize for a potential arena in Queens that would house the NHL's New York Islanders," and that Jones Lang LaSalle had already embarked on a study into the matter. Assertions the Newsday source called "totally fictitious."
Last month, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon talked to Isles owner Charles Wang about building an arena for the NHL team near Citi Field.
"We've had discussions with the Islanders -- in addition to those we've had with Major League Soccer -- about building a sports/entertainment facility near Citi Field," the Mets said in a statement.
Wilpon told Newsday that he spoke to Wang about trying to develop something "synergistic with Citi Field and a hockey arena."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.