Eyes On Isles
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Don’t worry Islanders fans UBS Arena will be open in time for Nov. 20

By Michel Anderson

ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: In an aerial view from a drone, the future home of the New York Islanders continues construction geared towards an October 2021 opening on October 9, 2020 at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: In an aerial view from a drone, the future home of the New York Islanders continues construction geared towards an October 2021 opening on October 9, 2020 at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The second the New York Islanders 2021-22 schedule was released everyone immediately looked for the first home date to know when the Isles would get into their new building. As you know, that first home date is November 20 against the Calgary Flames.

Great! But as you also probably also know the new arena isn’t ready yet. As of today, the seats aren’t all in yet. So will the new arena actually be ready for that first home game? Yes. Yes, it will be ready.

New York Islanders UBS Arena will open on time

On Thursday, both owners – Scott Malkin and John Ledecky- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke, and Executive VP Jeff Wilpon were all on deck for a tour of the Islanders new arena and to preach the readiness of the new venue.

Having the construction of a billion-dollar arena finish in New York finish on time during a global pandemic is an incredible achievement. Consider that 47 months passed from the day the Isles won the RFP to develop the arena to when the doors will open for the public on November 20.

The construction of the Barclays Center took nearly eight years from the time it was conceived to when it was open.

Again, because I think it’s important to state, a global pandemic shut down the entire world for 18 months and the arena is still going to be completed relatively on time. Sure, the arena was supposed to be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season in October, but only losing a month is an incredible achievement.

I know I’m not in the minority of fans here, but I can not wait to walk through those doors and take it all in. It won’t be the Nassau Coliseum, but I think the ownership group put enough of the Coli (in terms of design) in the new arena that it should feel at home immediately.

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