Islanders Beginning New Journey at UBS Arena

A new era in New York Islanders history began on Friday, with the ceremonial ribbon cutting at UBS Arena.
The physical ribbon cutting was a quick process, with Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and countless others standing in the Great Hall with scissors in hand, but the path to get there was anything but.
In a sense, the ribbon was playing the role of finishing line and starting point, the end of the Islanders' search for a new and permanent home - and the start of a bright future.

"The Islanders have had an interesting journey," Bettman said as the penultimate speaker at Friday's ceremony. "Whether that journey was venue to venue, from Nassau to Brooklyn and back again, or varying ownership groups… I think it's fair to say this franchise has never been in better shape. The future has never been brighter."

To appreciate the significance of UBS Arena's opening, you have to consider the events that led up to this point. Various ownership groups had looked to secure a building since the 1990s and had hit countless speedbumps along the way.
Just over 10 years ago, in August 2011, a referendum to publicly fund a new arena was voted down, throwing the Islanders' future in the New York area in doubt, especially with new buildings sprouting up in Kansas City and Quebec City.
But previous arena hardships did not faze the current ownership group, who were able to bring Charles B. Wang's vision of an arena in Belmont Park to life.
"Six years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Jon, Dewey and Scott, and OVG and the Islanders formed a partnership," said Tim Leiweke, the CEO of Oak View Group. "We let everyone simply tell us how we'd never get it done, how it wasn't going to work, how no one takes a $1B risk and privatizes it. We got through all of it."
The team won an RFP in 2017
to develop the land next to the Belmont racetrack, and
shovels went into the ground in September 2019
. For even the most cynical Islanders fan, that was a tactile sign that the dream was being brought to life.

Less than a year into construction, the project was
forced to pause
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps the most remarkable thing about UBS Arena's unveiling on Friday was that it was built on time, even in less than ideal conditions.
"We had great partners in the State of New York, ESD and NYRA. We had great partners in the union," Leiweke said. "We found a way to get through the greatest health crisis ever in the history of construction and here we sit today, with a building that was privately built, that will change a community forever, that will finally give the Islanders fans something they've been striving for 30 years, which is their home, which they deserve."
Governor Hochul echoed Leiweke's sentiment.
"You are witnessing the miracle on ice right here because you got it done in two years, during a pandemic, and this arena is awesome," Gov. Hochul said.
She added that when she walked into the building, all she could saw was "Wow."
The Governor also credited the Islanders with helping bring New Yorkers together last spring,
highlighting the crowd renditions of the national anthem
, singing in unison with Nicole Raviv.
"It was a beautiful reminder of the fact that despite the political discourse that goes on in America today, we are all united with the belief that this is an incredible country," Gov. Hochul said. "To the Islanders, you made that happen for a brief moment and we'll never forget that."

The stage is now set for more moments like last spring. The $1.1B arena gives the Islanders a state of the art facility of their own for the first time since 1972. The players toured their campus for the first time on Thursday and Mathew Barzal said he was blown away by the first class facility.
"It absolutely blew me away," Barzal said. "I walked right in, saw the gym, saw the eating area, and I couldn't wait to see more. The entire facility and the rink and how it is set up is so high end. I can't even tell you how nice it is down here. We're a really lucky group."
The fans may be the biggest beneficiaries. While there was special care to recreate Nassau Coliseum's intimacy via the low ceiling, UBS Arena is home to upgraded amenities, a new scoreboard, including increased restrooms, a second concourse,
a series of new food options
like Blue Line Deli and
Shaq's Big Chicken
, and elevated premium hospitality.
"This is as fine a venue as there is in the world. No detail was overlooked," Bettman said. "It'll make you feel special to be here because nothing has been left to chance. This is a beautiful, state of the art arena and something that Long Island has always deserved."
This building pays homage to the fans who will make it loud, be it through
the revival of Offside Tavern
, or the Isles supporter club logos above the Tailgate Bar. UBS Arena won't look like Nassau Coliseum, but it'll sure sound like it.

Friday's ribbon cutting was the appetizer for the main course on Saturday, which will be a celebration of the Islanders' decorated past, promising present and bright future. The best part, it is simply the beginning, the first of thousands of games, concerts and events. After 30 years of waiting, Islanders fans will have certainty, stability and a state of the art home to show off.
Ledecky, who toured every NHL building, and personally solicited feedback from fans, was the ownership representative on Friday. He said he was overwhelmed by the support from fans and thanked the construction workers for helping bring their vision to life. After cutting the ribbon, he took some fans on a private tour.
As part of the group who finally delivered the organization a new building, it is fitting that he gets the last word.
"Hello Islanders nation," Ledecky said. "Your new home is here."