Warden
April 7th, 2004, 06:51 PM
The opening volley of the playoff series between the Islanders and Tampa Bay was fired yesterday, not in the form of an explosive comment uttered by a player involved or a guarantee of victory from either side. Instead, the Isles believe they had their hotel reservations revoked by the Tampa Waterside Marriott when the hometown Lightning decided it also wanted to stay at the hotel that's right across the street from the arena.
"There was never a written contract, there was never a written understanding," said Bob Stewart, the hotel's director of marketing. "So there was never anything to revoke."
Stewart said there was only a verbal agreement between the Marriott and the Islanders (as well as two other teams), and that the Lightning beat the Isles to the punch in signing a contract "weeks ago."
Islanders management was enraged because it was never informed of this until yesterday. The team was forced to make alternate plans for its four-day, three-night stay that begins tomorrow.
www.nypost.com
"There was never a written contract, there was never a written understanding," said Bob Stewart, the hotel's director of marketing. "So there was never anything to revoke."
Stewart said there was only a verbal agreement between the Marriott and the Islanders (as well as two other teams), and that the Lightning beat the Isles to the punch in signing a contract "weeks ago."
Islanders management was enraged because it was never informed of this until yesterday. The team was forced to make alternate plans for its four-day, three-night stay that begins tomorrow.
www.nypost.com