44 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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An inside look at the Islanders’ new Belmont Park arena
Osaka wins U.S. Open to confi rm status as new star
BY AMY TENNERY/REUTERS
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Naomi Osaka ended Victoria
Azarenka’s dream run to claim her second
U.S. Open title in three years with
a 1-6 6-3 6-3 comeback win on Saturday
which cemented her status as the sport’s
leading light both on and off the court.
Unlike the 22-year-old Japanese’s fi rst
U.S. Open win in 2018 over Serena
Williams, which was played in a frothing
Arthur Ashe Stadium, Saturday’s drama
unfolded in a strangely quiet arena as
COVID-19 health and safety protocols
prevented fans from entering the Billie
Jean King National Tennis Center.
But the lack of buzz around the stands
did not stop the two former world number
ones from producing a dazzling display
of shot making.
As Osaka walked off with a third Grand
Slam title, Azarenka was denied a U.S.
Open crown for a third time having also
fi nished runner-up in 2012 and 2013.
Still it was a remarkable and unexpected
run for the 31-year-old Belarusian,
who reached her fi rst major fi nal in seven
years.
It was the second time in two weeks
Azarenka, twice a winner at the Australian
Open, and Osaka had set up a fi nal showdown.
Th e pair had been set to meet in
the Western and Southern Open fi nal on
Aug. 29 until Osaka withdrew due to a
hamstring injury.
“I actually don’t want to play you in
more fi nals,” Osaka told Azarenka with a
smile during the victory ceremony.
“I didn’t really enjoy that.
“Th at was a really tough match for me.
“And yes, really inspiring for me because
I used to watch you play here when I was
younger so just to have the opportunity to
play you is really great and I learned a lot.”
COVID-19 era
Th e presentation ceremony showed the
precautions everyone has had to take during
the COVID-19 era, with the two fi nalists
having to pick up their respective
prizes themselves from a table placed on
court, while everyone stood socially distant
for the obligatory photocall.
Azarenka, who ended Serena Williams
bid for a record equalling 24th Grand
Slam title in the semi-fi nals, carried
that momentum into the fi nal with a
near fl awless fi rst set.
If any spectators had been allowed
in Arthur Ashe Stadium, they no
doubt would have been left
stunned by events as a
rampaging Azarenka
again broke Osaka at
the fi rst opportunity
in the second to go
2-0 up.
But Osaka
would not
lose her composure.
After no aces
in the opening set,
Osaka, one of the game’s top servers,
slowly began to fi nd her mark
in the second. She hammered
down fi ve aces
while helping herself
to three breaks on
way to levelling the
match.
In the third it was
Osaka applying all
the early pressure on
an increasingly rattled
Azarenka. She took
charge with a break
to nudge in front
3-1.
Azarenka would
show her fi ghting
spirit with a
break to get back
on serve at 3-4
but Osaka would
not be denied,
immediately breaking back
and holding serve to seal
victory.
BY JOE PANTORNO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Over the past 35 years, you can count
on one hand the number of times there
have been such reasons for optimism
around the New York Islanders.
Th ey’re in the Eastern Conference
Finals for the fi rst time in 27 years; they
have some of the best leadership in the
NHL from GM Lou Lamoriello down to
head coach Barry Trotz; and they have a
state-of-the-art arena under construction
that will fi nally provide them with a 21stcentury,
hockey-fi rst home at Belmont
Park.
During Game 2 against the Lightning
Wednesday night, Islanders owner Jon
Ledecky invitedamNewYork Metroto the
UBS Arena Preview Club, off ering the
newspaper a fi rst glimpse at the team’s
future home, while providing an in-depth
look alongside Oak View Group CEO,
Tim Leiweke, whose company is overseeing
the building’s construction.
Th e $1.5 billion project is set to become
the premier arena in the New York metropolitan
area to catch a hockey game —
or a concert — as Leiweke and Ledecky
did incredible amounts of homework in
designing UBS Arena.
“We all collectively did an analysis on
what worked and what didn’t work. Th e
players helped design with Lou and Barry
the 23,000-square-foot campus,” Ledecky
told amNewYork Metro. “It was really a
combination of Tim and the fact that I
was traveling around the Coliseum vs. sitting
in the owner’s box, talking to hundreds
of fans. Th ey all wanted the same
thing: An intimate, tight, great lower bowl
and an intimate environment.”
Such a setup will be reminiscent of the
team’s current home, Nassau Coliseum,
which provided some of the best sightlines
and atmospheres in hockey, but
lacked modern-day amenities for a pro
hockey team.
To ensure UBS Arena met those standards,
Ledecky traveled across the country
and toured numerous arenas to replicate
the best aspects from each.
“Th ere’s a lot of learning and as I call
it, let’s be great thieves,” Leiweke said.
“We don’t have to be the smartest guys in
the room; we just have to be good at taking
other people’s ideas and putting it to
work here.”
At this point, the renderings of the
arena have become museum-worthy
works of art for Islanders fans, who are
eagerly awaiting their new home’s opening
for the start of the 2021-22 season.
But there are some other things to look
for other than just the in-game experience
— especially an unnamed restaurant that
Leiweke raved about.
“This restaurant-bar that we’ve created
in the building, and I’m not going to
give too much of this away, but there’s a
spot in the building that stares straight
at the stage. Honestly, I’ve been doing
this for 40-plus years, I’ve built lots of
arenas — we’re in the middle of building
six right now. This is singularly the
greatest place I’ve ever seen to either
watch a concert or a hockey game,”
Leiweke said. “The restaurant, the decorations,
the special touches, the linen
touches, the food we’re going to serve,
this is my favorite place in the building.
And when people see it, I think they’ll
know why it might be, maybe, the single
best space in any arena I’ve ever seen to
see a live event.”
For Ledecky, it’s a special section in the
arena without seats that allows fans to
stand and mingle, making hockey games
not just vital for a sports fan, but “a happening”
for all who attend.
And if they do have to leave their perch
or their seats for refreshments, they won’t
miss a beat.
“We’re going to have eight bars where
you can actually see the action while
you’re grabbing a drink. Th at’s something
you don’t see in a lot of arenas,” Ledecky
said. “You have to go through the concourse,
you have to stand on line, maybe
there’s a TV you can see, and half the time
you go — I know when I’ve been a fan
— half the time I go to get a Coke or a
drink, I miss the damn goal. I think having
something like that is fan-friendly.”
Before UBS Arena can be completed
and experienced, the Islanders still
have one more year to get through, which
doesn’t provide them a guarantee of their
former home, the Nassau Coliseum, right
now.
Mikhail Prokhorov got out of his contract
and his debt earlier this summer,
which was taken over by Florida developer
Nick Mastroianni II. While he searches
for a new developer for the building,
Leiweke and Oak View Group have
already put in a pitch to do just that,
allowing the Islanders to play the 2020-
21 season at the Coliseum before heading
out to Belmont.
Th ere has been no clarity on the situation
as of yet.
“I hope Nassau works out. Th at’s where
the Islanders should play their games. At
the end of the day, we don’t want to be in
a position where Nassau Coliseum’s future
use is pitted directly against UBS Arena,”
Leiweke said. “It’s a billion-dollar private
investment, so hopefully, there’s a way
where we can fi nd a solution for everyone
and I’m going to leave it at that.”
Mandatory Credit: Danielle
Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Joe Pantorno
/WWW.QNS.COM
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