sports
86 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 21, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
It’s offi cial: New Islanders arena to be built at Belmont Park
BY TIMOTHY BOLGER
AND ROBERT POZARYCKI
editorial@qns.com / @QNS
Th e New York Islanders have won a bid
to build a new arena at Belmont Park on
the Queens/Nassau border, and it’s possible
the team will skate back home to Long
Island before the new building is done.
On Dec. 19, Bloomberg and other news
outlets cited anonymous sources stating
that hockey team and its fi nancial backers
are getting the green light to build a new
18,000-seat arena on New York state land
in a parking lot adjacent to the racetrack.
Governor Andrew Cuomo made it offi -
cial the following day, Dec. 20, during a
formal announcement at the racetrack.
He said the billion-dollar development
will create a new 18,000-seat arena that
will serve as the Islanders’ permanent
home, as well as a new 435,000-squarefoot
retail and dining village and a luxury
hotel adjacent to the arena.
“With the state-of-the-art redevelopment
of Belmont Park, we are adding
a crown jewel to the economic resurgence
on Long Island. Th e return of the
Islanders is exciting for all fans, bringing
the storied franchise back to its rightful
home,” Cuomo said. “Th e creation of
this world-class entertainment destination
will bring visitors from near and far,
as we continue to transform the region
and strengthen our economic momentum
on Long Island.”
Th e project will create 12,300 construction
jobs and 3,100 permanent jobs,
Cuomo said. Additionally, the Belmont
Park Long Island Rail Road station will
become a full-time stop as part of a new
transit hub; the station is only used on
race days at the track.
“I am excited to fi nally welcome the
Islanders home to Nassau County, and
I’d like to thank Governor Cuomo for
helping make that possible,” Nassau
County Executive-elect Laura Curran
said. “As county executive, I’ll make sure
we work with the local community and
stakeholders to make sure the area is
developed with their input. Economic
development at Belmont will benefi t all
Nassau County taxpayers.”
Th e rebooted New York Cosmos soccer
team previously proposed building a
stadium on the site, but the Empire State
Development Corp. scrapped that and
other bids made years ago. Th e Cosmos
then moved to Brooklyn.
Th e Islanders left the coliseum in
Uniondale, their original home, and
moved to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn
in 2015 aft er multiple failed attempts to
renovate Th e Old Barn, as fans call the
coliseum.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that
the Isles were looking to leave Barclays
and fi nd a new home, reigniting hope that
they might return to the recently renovated
coliseum, but NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman said the coliseum is “not a
long-term option.”
Investors in the new arena include
Sterling Project Development, Madison
Square Garden Co. and private equity
fi rm Oak View Group, the Press previously
reported. Sterling is owned by
the Wilpon family, who also own the
New York Mets, while MSG is run by
the Dolan family, who also own the New
York Rangers and the New York Knicks.
“While it’s certainly an interesting proposal
for the Rangers to take ownership
in the arena of an arch-rival, it
would at least bring the Islanders back
to Nassau County,” outgoing Nassau
County Executive Ed Mangano has said.
Reportedly, the new arena could be
ready in time for the 2020 season. Despite
its existing lease with the Barclays Center,
Cuomo said the state would negotiate
with the Islanders to play as many of its
home games as possible at the Nassau
Coliseum until the new arena is complete.
Renderings courtesy of the Governor’s offi ce
A rendering of the new arena, hotel and transit hub to be created adjacent to Belmont Park.