Succeeding an air force base on the Hempstead Plains, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum debuted in 1972 as Long Island's foremost sports and entertainment mecca. Its first tenants were a mediocre basketball team and expansion hockey club. Both appeared unlikely to foster a winning attitude, yet soon emerged as champions. Julius "Dr. J." Erving dunked the New York Nets to two titles, and the Islanders launched a star-studded Stanley Cup dynasty. Over the decades, the coliseum has also hosted presidents, legendary musicians, the NHL All-Star Game, and WrestleMania 2. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum chronicles, for the first time ever, the history of a suburban arena that has often garnered the national spotlight.