2 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • JANUARY 2022
WELCOMING UBS ARENA
BY BILL PARRY
Local elected officials
were on hand for the
official ribbon-cutting
ceremony at the new
$1.1 billion multipurpose,
state-of-the-art UBS Arena
located at Belmont Park, the
new home of the New York
Islanders.
Future phases of the Belmont
Park Redevelopment Project
will include a 350,000-squarefoot
destination entertainment
and retail complex and a 250-
room hotel that will become an
economic engine as the region
recovers from the Covid-19
pandemic.
“Responsible, community
led economic development
is essential to bringing
New York back,” state Sen.
Leroy Comrie said. “It took
quite a bit of doing, but we
are finally crossing the finish
line and looking forward
to an economic boost for the
region and the state.”
UBS Arena will host more
than 150 major events annually
and is designed to hold
up to 19,000 people for concerts
and audiences up to
17,250 for NHL games.
“I honestly have never been
a hockey fan, but to me, this
is a win-win because the
islanders have one of the best
fan bases in the NHL and
with the easy access provided
by the new Long Island
Rail Road station, that fan
base will have easy access to
our neighborhoods," Comrie
said. “It will bring the opportunity
for economic development
to our restaurants
and businesses and create so
many jobs in hotel and retail
management.”
Comrie added that 15
employment fairs have been
held already in his district,
and more than 500 of his constituents
have been hired so
far for permanent and seasonal
jobs. He also thanked community
leaders who served
on the Advisory Council
and others who stood up and
spoke about what needed to
be done to preserve and protect
neighborhood integrity
Local leaders welcome
economic development
that comes with opening
while having a vision to
move their communities forward.
“Queens is thrilled to welcome
the New York Islanders
to our immediate area, but
we’re also thrilled about the
job creation and economic
activity benefitting our
borough that the opening
of the spectacular new UBS
Arena will generate,” Queens
Borough President Donovan
Richards said. “Here’s to
bringing home the Stanley
Cup for the Islanders and
bringing home the bacon
for both Queens and Nassau
County.”
of UBS Arena
Assemblyman Clyde
Vanel, an Islanders
season ticket holder,
called the Belmont Park
Redevelopment Project a
great example of when government
and private partnerships
work.
“We are excited to have
the New York Islanders and
the UBS Arena as our neighbors,”
Vanel said. “Along
with great events, we anticipate
it being a jobs hub
for our community. We are
also excited to have a new
Long Island Rail Road station.
The UBS Arena will be
a great place to create memories
for years to come.”
The Queens Chamber of
Commerce is excited to
see the UBS Arena open
its doors after two years of
construction. The Chamber
said they’ve developed a
relationship with Islanders,
and commend them for an
“impressive job engaging
the business community in
southeast Queens.”
“In turn, we’ve seen real
excitement from our members
in the area who understand
the positive impact
being so close to a worldclass
sports and entertainment
venue will have on
their businesses,” Queens
Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Tom
Grech said. “We believe
UBS Arena will be a transformative
project for southeast
Queens and our neighbors
in Nassau County, This
venue will be one of the
best, if not the best, arenas
in the National Hockey
League. It will not only
draw fans from Queens and
Long Island but also attract
hockey fans from throughout
North America. This,
coupled with a full schedule
of concerts and other
events that bring visitors
to the area, will catalyze
economic activity that supports
small businesses and
creates jobs.”
Photo courtesy of Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the Governor
UBS Arena in Elmont is now open to the public.
Photo courtesy of Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the Governor
Several southeast Queens officials joined Gov. Kathy Hochul as she officially opened UBS Arena, bringing economic development to the area.
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