UBS Arena – New York Islanders
- Greg Venuto
- Apr 1
- 6 min read
Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
UBS Arena 2400 Hempstead Turnpike Elmont, NY 11003
Year Opened: 2021
Capacity: 17,255
Islanders’ Oasis at UBS Arena
It’s hard to believe the New York Islanders are about to complete their fourth season at UBS Arena. The Arena, right next to Belmont Park, has undergone minor tweaks and has established itself as a great place to take in a hockey game or any event it hosts.
The design was inspired by iconic New York landmarks, including Central Park, Ebbets Field, Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue Armory, and Prospect Park Boathouse. It features two outdoor terraces open to all guests and more restrooms per person than any arena in Metro New York.
The Main Entrance is located at the northeast side of the venue. This entry leads into the Acrisure Great Hall, modeled after the iconic Grand Central Station. There are three other entrances: the American Express is located at the northwest side of the venue and the other two entry points are for VIPs only (BMV and Dime).
Other reasons for fans to be excited are the eight bars with views of the ice and the largest arena scoreboard in New York State with two levels of high-resolution LED ribbon boards. The Emerald Lot is a convenient place to park and is about a 12-minute walk to the entrance. The train stop, accessed via the Ronkonkoma or Hempstead line, is a nice addition and gives fans an option who prefer not to drive.
The rafters feature the Islanders four Stanley Cup banners to commemorate championships from 1979-1980 through 1982-1983. The player banners include an impressive array of retired numbers from those championship teams. Forwards Clark Gillies (9), Mike Bossy (22), Bobby Nystrom (23) and John Tonelli (27), centers Bryan Trottier (19) and Butch Goring (91), defenseman Denis Potvin (5), goalie Billy Smith (31) coach Al Arbour (1500 - the number of games he coached) and general manager Bill Torrey (TORREY “The Architect”) all have banners above.
Food & Beverage 4
The food and beverage choices get high marks for abundance and variety. Some of the choices include a carving station with porchetta and steak sandwiches, nachos, sushi and Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque. There is also birria grilled cheese, loaded baked potatoes, a Knishwich hot pastrami sandwich with swiss cheese on a warm knish bun. Of course there is traditional fare such as pretzels, hot dogs, fries, pizza, donuts and Mister Softee ice cream.
For alcoholic beverages, choices include Henny cherry lemonade, smoked and frozen cocktails, a wine and tequila bar along with staples such as beer are readily available. Traditional soft drinks (Coca-Cola is the beverage of choice) and water are non-alcoholic options.
Atmosphere 4
The configuration is interesting as two thirds of the seats are in the lower bowl. The huge team store (Isles Lab Team Store) is located on the main concourse outside section 104 and across from the Heineken Red Star Bar.
Hopefully the novelty of UBS has not worn off. Last season (2024), the Islanders had their best attendance at 18,099 but this year (2025) the mark has fallen to 15,930 as of late March.
While the scoreboard is massive, the one negative is the board does not flash many in-game statistics. The atmosphere in the seating area is solid with good sightlines bolstered by the sounds of renown organist Paul Cartier. His organ is situated in the concourse behind the goal the Islanders defend twice and he often chats with fans in between periods. Cartier is also the organist at Yankee Stadium. Alex Anthony is the public address announcer and he fulfills the same role for the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
The one issue with the public address is at the end of the game the announcer does not say the final score, the shots on goal in the third period and total shots and neglects to share the three stars of the game. Evidently, the Islanders leave that information out when the home team loses.
The arena is easy to move around, but naturally when navigating the concourses gridlock is an issue in between periods. The Islanders attempt to enforce the policy of not allowing fans to return to their seat until there is a stoppage in play.
Neighborhood 3
The surrounding area is congested, but the good news is UBS is right off the Cross Island Parkway and close to the Grand Central Parkway. Both the parkways and Hempstead Turnpike can get tied up before and after games. UBS is on Long Island but is adjacent to the Queens line about 6 miles away.
For food options nearby, The Harrison (4.3 rating on Yelp), King Umberto and Cookerz Blend (Caribbean) in Queens are all within 10 minutes of UBS. The Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City is a good option for kids near the UBS Arena located at 11 Davis Avenue. The Garden City and The Andrew are two nearby hotels.
Fans 4
The Islanders have always had a fervent fan base but not the largest one. The fans can be vocal and the “Let’s Go Islanders” chant will ring around UBS especially during big or close games. The Islanders’ devoted fan club, the Blue and Orange Army, keep the crowd engaged with the help of mascot Sparky the Dragon. The group reminds me of the 7 Line Army at Citi Field.
The building is not as loud as the old Nassau Coliseum, but the amenities and extra space are worth it. The Lighthouse is a nice touch and lights up when the Islanders take the ice or when the home team scores and fog billows out.
The Islanders, who are in the Metropolitan Division, are in a race to obtain the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Long Islanders are trying to qualify for the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years.
Access 4
The arena doors open 90 minutes prior to puck drop.
If you prefer the train, fans can take the LIRR to and from UBS Arena. A 30-minute direct train service to Elmont-UBS Arena Station is available from Grand Central Madison and Penn Station.
UBS Arena has 5 parking areas, which can only be accessed via the Cross Island Parkway: Belmont Park Garage Exit 26A, Diamond, Ruby, and Silver Parking Exit 26B (Hempstead Turnpike East) and Emerald Parking Exit 26D. It is advised to pre-pay for parking using the ParkWhiz app. It is $40 to park in the Emerald Lot.
Free shuttles are available between UBS Arena, Emerald Parking and Elmont-UBS Arena Station if fans prefer not to walk. UBS employs the more advanced security screening where contents do not need to be removed from your pockets. The screening process was quick and painless.
Return on Investment 3
The Fan Cost Index of the National Hockey League for 2024 ranked the Islanders just under the league average at $410.07. The total comprises the price of four averaged-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-sized hot dogs, parking, two game programs and two of the least-expensive, adult-sized adjustable caps.
Everything at UBS is pricey. Although technically the arena is situated on Long Island, it seems like NYC prices are in effect.
Extras 4
One point is awarded for the Blue and Orange Army located behind sections 329/228/230 which is the goal the Islanders defend twice. The group is pseudo soccer supporters who bang a drum and chant often during the game. While the group is energetic, some spectators might prefer to not be in earshot of the drum.
The Park at UBS Arena is worthy of another point, a large open space that is quite impressive. The area is sponsored by Northwell Health and includes a complimentary 9-hole mini golf course and features New York Islanders and New York themed obstacles. The area has solo stoves, outdoor dining in enclosed bubbles, food trucks and interactive games. On this visit, Stadium Journey was fortunate as the weather was mild which enabled ample time to enjoy the area. There is even an outdoor skating rink in the park.
Another point is awarded for the concourses which are fairly wide and open. There are places to sit and eat with a plethora of dining options and many bars. The layout is a welcome sight coming from the cramped Nassau Coliseum which had plenty of atmosphere but little room to maneuver. The building also has a new and clean feel.
Final Thoughts
UBS is worthy of a Stadium Journey. The building is big, bright and airy with high ceilings and plenty of open concourses. The addition of a transit stop gives fans an option who do not want to battle Long Island/Queens traffic. The Islanders have stepped up after a failed attempt at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (from 2015-2020) and outgrew their digs at Nassau Coliseum.
Ticket prices can be an issue but sometimes cheaper tickets can be found on weekdays and through the secondary market.
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