On the Islanders Beat

Of all the new arenas in the country, Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Az., where the Islanders meet Phoenix tonight, is the closest to serving as the template for the vision of the Long Island Lighthouse Project imagined by Isles owner Charles Wang and his developer partner, Scott Rechler.

The Westgate Center is not a mall. It's an open-air complex built adjacent to the arena, and it includes a hotel with a conference center, eight restaurants that I counted, including the ice cream shop, at least two more bars and four satellite restaurants on the property, a variety of shops, a multiplex movie house and what is described as office lofts located on the upper floors of some of the buildings housing restaurants and shops on the first floor. There also is the obligatory fountain with dancing water in the middle of one of the two town square-style gathering areas, and there is parking all around the entire thing.

It appears an apartment tower is planned for the site, but there are several apartment complexes already ringing the property, the residents of which have just a stroll across the parking lot to attend a game, shop or grab a bite to eat. As I wandered around last night, checking out the menus and making my decision on where to eat, I ran into a group of seven or eight young Islanders enjoying dinner in one of the restaurants and a group of Islanders broadcasters and office staff having dinner together at another restaurant.

The convenience and casual atmosphere of the place just encourages that kind of socializing. Yes, the warm climate is an attraction, too. Temperatures were in the mid-50s to low-60s last night, but it's the atmosphere of wandering through a small village devoted to an entertainment lifestyle that is the real lure.

I know how cold it was when I got in my car for the drive to the airport at 6 a.m. on New Year's Day, but imagine a complex like this one at the Coliseum with an ice rink as the centerpiece. It could be Long Island's mini-version of Rockefeller Center. You know, without the bother of going into Manhattan.

The parking obviously is no problem in an area like this one with wide-open spaces waiting to be developed. The Lighthouse Project on LI imagines a huge underground parking facility, as well as parking areas on the perimeter with a trolley service to take people to the main complex.

But having lived in Phoenix and worked for The Arizona Republic from 1974-77, I can tell you it's hard to believe the transformation that has taken place in Glendale because of the sports-centered facilities. Thirty years ago, Glendale was the westernmost suburb of Phoenix, but it stopped well short of where it has grown to now. There was nothing but tumbleweeds and cactus and maybe a few farms in this area when I lived here.

Now, it's a destination. Just south of Jobing.com Arena lies The University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Fiesta Bowl will take place Monday night and where the Giants won the Super Bowl last February. There still is plenty of open space around here, but without a doubt, this entertainment complex has put Glendale on the map as a competitor with Scottsdale, the high-fashion suburb on the east side of Phoenix.

Maybe Town of Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray and the town board should take a junket out here to get a first-hand look at what the Lighthouse Project could look like. See what works for the Nassau Coliseum parcel and what doesn't. It's not so scary when you see the actual bricks and mortar and then see locals and tourists alike strolling through the complex and kids riding bikes. It might be a look at the future of suburban development.

ISLES FILES: I'm heading over to the pre-game skate in a few minutes, but for now, I can tell you Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald are the only two goaltenders on this trip, meaning DiPietro might be ready to play against either Phoenix tonight or San Jose tomorrow night in the back-to-back. Center Frans Nielsen also is on this trip. He's close to coming back from multiple leg injuries suffered on the hit by the Devils' Mike Mottau. I'm told Nielsen skated more aggressively than he has in yesterday's practice. Trent Hunter also is on the trip, although it's uncertain whether he's ready to return after the blow he took in the Rangers game on Monday when he landed on the open door frame of the penalty box area at the Garden. More later.