Belmont Park remains a real outdoor game possibility for the NY Islanders

Steve Mayer, President of NHL Events and Content, didn’t announce an outdoor game at Belmont Park, but he made it clear the idea is far more than idle speculation.

Mayer was asked on SportsBash with Peter Schwartz about the possibility of the Islanders someday hosting an outdoor game at Belmont Park, adjacent to UBS Arena. Mayer’s first response set the tone for how broadly — and seriously — the league approaches these discussions. “I don’t think there’s a venue in the United States or Canada that we haven’t either looked at, seen, or has been discussed,” he said, making clear that no potential site is dismissed out of hand.

Belmont, specifically, is very much on the NHL’s radar. “Of course, we’ve talked about Belmont,” Mayer said, before pointing to the league’s growing familiarity with the area through repeated visits to UBS Arena and the upcoming All-Star Game. That context matters. Outdoor games aren’t standalone ideas; they are extensions of relationships, infrastructure, and confidence in a market’s ability to host something massive.

Mayer also made a point to credit John Collins, whose work with the Islanders and coordination with the New York Racing Association has helped keep the concept viable. Mayer called Collins “one of the most innovative, greatest businessmen … in the business sports world,” a strong endorsement that hints at why Belmont continues to be part of the conversation.

The NHL’s excitement around the All-Star Game at UBS Arena further reinforces the opportunity. Mayer described the event as “a long time coming” and noted that the league has “big plans” to announce in the coming months. With Belmont Park’s redevelopment nearing completion and the entire area transforming into a major sports and entertainment hub, the appeal is obvious.

No announcement has been made, and no timeline set. But Mayer’s words carried intent. Belmont Park isn’t a hypothetical — it’s a possibility the NHL continues to take seriously, waiting for the right moment to turn discussion into reality.