New looks and name for Islanders’ home venue, UBS Arena at Belmont Park

The future home for the New York Islanders hockey team has a name. Wealth management service UBS last week secured a 20-year naming rights agreement for the new sports and entertainment venue in Nassau County. The UBS Arena at Belmont Park is expected to open for the Islanders’ 2021-2022 season, with the team returning to Long Island after playing home games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn since 2015.

“The New York City area is home to our Americas headquarters, thousands of our employees, and more UBS clients than any other US market,” Tom Naratil, co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a press release. “We have deep roots in the tri-state area and a fundamental commitment to growing our presence in the US. This is an opportunity to demonstrate and accelerate that commitment while having a positive and lasting impact on the surrounding community.”

In addition to the new 19,000-seat sports arena, the $1.5 billion redevelopment of the state-owned horseracing park includes a 250-key hotel, a retail “village,” and office space. A new Long Island Rail Road station is also expected to be built, the first full-time LIRR Station built in five decades.

The project, which developers Oak View Group and Sterling Project Development say will create 10,000 jobs and generate $25 billion in economic activity over two decades, broke ground last September. As part of the privately funded project, about $100 million will be allocated for the new LIRR station and other infrastructure improvements.

“UBS Arena will stand as a beacon of strength, resilience, achievement, and community, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with our loyal fans,” Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the New York Islanders, said. “We’re thrilled to be partners with UBS on this transformational project that will be so important to the New York economy for decades.”

The interiors and exteriors of UBS Arena will be inspired by iconic New York landmarks, including Grand Central Terminal, Prospect Park Boathouse, and the Park Avenue Armory.

Other perks of the new venue include two outdoor terraces open to all guests, eight bars with the perfect rink and stage views, and great sightlines throughout. The displays in the arena will include the largest scoreboard in New York, theatrical lighting and ice video projections, and free WiFi for guests.

UBS can hold 17,000 fans for Islanders games and 19,000 for concerts. The arena is on track to open as expected ahead of the 2021-2022 season in October or November 2021.

RELATED: 

• Cuomo breaks ground on Belmont Park arena; see new renderings of Islanders’ future home
• Cuomo announces new LIRR station as part of Belmont Park redevelopment project

All renderings courtesy of UBS