UBS Arena is a modern multipurpose arena in Elmont, New York, built on the grounds of the historic Belmont Park thoroughbred racetrack just outside New York City. It opened on November 20, 2021, giving the New York Islanders their first purpose-built home arena since the team’s founding in 1972, ending decades spent shuttling between Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center.
Developed by New York Arena Partners, a joint venture of the Islanders, Oak View Group, and Sterling Equities, the roughly $1 billion project also funded the Elmont-UBS Arena Long Island Rail Road station, the first newly built LIRR station in nearly 50 years. Fans have nicknamed the building ‘The Stable,’ a nod to its home on the grounds of a legendary racetrack.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): New York Islanders (NHL)
- Location: 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, New York
- Opened: November 20, 2021
- Capacity: 17,255 (hockey); up to 19,000 (concerts)
- Architects: Populous, JRDV Urban International, Stantec
- Construction Cost: About $1 billion
- Notable Fact: First arena built specifically for the Islanders since 1972
The Fan Experience
UBS Arena was designed with sightlines and intimacy in mind, keeping every seat close to the ice by NHL standards. The concourses feature open views of the action even from concession areas, and the arena’s design drew praise for blending modern amenities with a boutique, team-first atmosphere rather than the multi-tenant feel common at older shared arenas.
Beyond hockey, the venue has become a major concert and entertainment stop on Long Island, hosting large-scale touring acts and high-profile events including the MTV Video Music Awards in both 2024 and 2025, alongside appearances by St. John’s University basketball and other tenants.
Built at Belmont Park
The arena anchors a broader redevelopment of the historic Belmont Park site, a thoroughbred racing venue that has hosted the Belmont Stakes since the 1900s. The project brought an estimated 10,000 construction jobs and roughly 3,000 permanent positions to the area, alongside new retail, dining, and transit infrastructure connecting Elmont to Manhattan via the new LIRR station adjacent to the arena.
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UBS Arena FAQs
Who plays at UBS Arena?
The NHL’s New York Islanders are the primary tenant, with the PWHL’s New York Sirens, St. John’s University basketball, and touring concerts also using the venue.
What is UBS Arena’s capacity?
UBS Arena holds about 17,255 fans for hockey games and can expand to roughly 19,000 for concerts and other events.
When did UBS Arena open?
UBS Arena opened on November 20, 2021, in Elmont, New York, on the grounds of Belmont Park.
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Photo: Tdorante10 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.