3 ideas to make UBS Arena even better for NY Islanders fans

UBS Arena is everything New York Islanders wanted, but that doesn't mean they don't want more.

The arena was built specifically for hockey, and fans were informally and formally surveyed for years to ensure that the building was worth the nearly three-decade wait - and it has been. The building is state-of-the-art in every way yet maintains the intimate feel, superior sight lines, and sound that made the Nassau Coliseum so great.

But now, two years after its debut, fans have grown familiar and comfortable with their new surroundings, which means they now have ideas to make it even better. We recently asked our followers on Twitter the following: After two years at UBS Arena, is there anything those that attend regularly would want to see added/improved to the experience?

There were a lot of comments about food/drink prices, but we don't see them coming down any time soon. There were plenty of recommendations on how to rectify the parking challenges and improve the shuttle service and walking experience from the Emerald lot. There were also a handful of requests for more in-game replays and an out-of-town scoreboard.

Some fans were very precise in what they wanted to see, including t-shirt tosses to happen on the second-level, heaters on the Heineken terrace, and a suggestion to make Section 329 bleacher seating - easier to bang and stomp that way!

But a few suggestions stood out and appeared to have a consensus among the fanbase. Here are three ideas to make UBS Arena even better for New York Islanders fans in the future.

An Islanders Museum

The Islanders Hall-of-Fame was an often overlooked, if not forgotten, part of team history.

For years, only a banner hanging from the rafters of the Nassau Coliseum was there to remind fans that there even was one. That changed with the opening of UBS Arena. The plaques for each player, which were previously unveiled in 2008 and located near the team's dressing room, are now prominently displayed on the main concourse against a blue background.

You can't miss them as you walk in.

The team hadn't inducted any player in the Islanders Hall of Fame since 2011 until John Tonelli and Butch Goring received the honor when the team retired their respective numbers in February 2020. We can debate whether Josh Bailey will one day have his own plaque another day.

However, fans want more and would love to see a more comprehensive Islanders museum located inside the arena that would display Islanders' artifacts, memorabilia, and moments from their 50-year history. The team could draw inspiration from the New York Yankees and create a museum of loaned or donated memorabilia.

The Yanks have "the wall" that seeks to collect one signed baseball from every player, coach, broadcaster, etc., in team history - they've achieved 55% of their goal. Could the Islanders aim to do something similar with pucks? Absolutely. There could be permanent exhibits, including Stanley Cup rings, jerseys, lockers, etc., with other rotating special exhibits to keep things fresh.

You don't need to be a team with the history of the Yankees to do this.

In recent years, the New York Mets have expanded their Hall of Fame, which regular inductees, and have added new features in their museum, which is located adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. It includes a timeline of Mets history, a display of the original Mr. Met, World Series Trophies, a tribute to broadcast legends, and more.

An Islanders museum would become another destination for fans before and after games and something that could be part of the regular UBS Arena tours that season-ticket holders have been treated to. This ownership group has done a tremendous job bringing back Isles Alumni from all parts of team history in recent years, a museum exhibit would be the next step in the celebration of these past players and Islanders history.

I'm betting there are a good amount of fans that would be willing to donate their own memorabilia to put on display there for many years to come.

A Team Store on the Upper Level

By any measure, Isles Lab has been a success.

This type of exclusive team store is unique to professional sports in how it creates an experience beyond merchandise. It's not simply a store with the aim to sell the same type of gear a fan would be able to purchase or see anywhere else. Its objective is to be much more than that.

As Forbes wrote in February, Isles Lab has been a cultural success. You can be a fan attending all 41 home games throughout the season and see something new every time you walk through its doors. A very wide range of products is being sold, including fan-inspired items and things that aren't even intended to be sold necessarily. You can still have an engaging experience at the

As great as Isles Lab is, perhaps it's a bit too popular. Fans watching the game on the second level don't have the time to head down to the main concourse and often wait in line to enter the store, leaving little type to peruse. If they do want to purchase something, it will likely come at the expense of not being back in their seats for the start of the next period.

There shouldn't be another Isles Lab, but the organization could explore the development of a modest team store on the second level, even if it is more traditional and less ambitious than the flagship location. There are currently some pop-up merchandise locations you can pass on your way to seats or the bathroom, which is alright for a spontaneous hat or shirt buy, but not much else.

The best time to experience Isles Lab is before or after games, but a second team store on the upper level would allow fans to shop and feel less rushed during intermissions.