A timeline of how we arrived at UBS Arena at Belmont Park for the Islanders
UBS Arena on June 9, 2021. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Dec. 20, 2017: A development team led by the Islanders wins a bid to build an arena at Belmont Park.
Newsday's front page from Dec. 24, 2017.
Aug. 8, 2019: Empire State Development, the state board responsible for economic development, unanimously approves the project.
Aug. 14, 2019: The Franchise Oversight Board, a state agency that oversees the New York Racing Association and all activity at Belmont, issues the final series of approvals on the project.
Sept. 10, 2019: The Village of Floral Park files a lawsuit against the state to block construction of the arena. In the suit, the village argues the public bidding process was flawed and tipped in favor of developer New York Arena Partners due to a "secret plan" conceived before the state issued a request for proposals. The suit also claims the state's final environmental review did not fully study the impact of the new Elmont Long Island Rail Road station that will be built on the site of the racetrack's north parking lot.
Sept. 22, 2019: Elmont civic leaders file a lawsuit against ESD, developers New York Arena Partners and others to stop construction on the arena, claiming the state does not have the authority to designate its own land at Belmont for private development.
Sept. 23, 2019: A groundbreaking ceremony is held. Among those in attendance: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman; Islanders co-owners Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin, GM Lou Lamoriello, head coach Barry Trotz and various players and Islanders alumni; Nassau County Executive Laura Curran; and former Mets COO Jeff Wilpon.
New York Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Islanders captain Anders Lee join others in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Islanders' new hockey arena at Belmont Park on Sept. 23, 2019. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
Nov. 1, 2019: Floral Park asks a judge for a temporary restraining order to immediately stop certain construction activities. The village claims residents were "suffering real and significant adverse impacts" as a result of the construction.
Nov. 7, 2019: A state Supreme Court justice denies Floral Park’s request to immediately stop construction activities, saying that the village did not present enough evidence that those activities will cause "irreparable harm" as its lawsuit continues.
March 27, 2020: Construction at the arena — and all-non-essential construction in New York — is stopped as part of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 27, 2020: Construction resumes at Belmont Park after a two-month halt.
May 13, 2020: The last lawsuits filed by the Village of Floral Park and various civic groups are tossed, eliminating all legal challenges to the project.
July 22, 2020: UBS and the Islanders agree to stadium naming rights.
Sept. 30, 2020: Season tickets for Islanders games at UBS Arena go on sale.
Oct. 6, 2020: The Islanders and Northwell Health announce a 10-year sponsorship deal for UBS Arena.
Oct. 9, 2020: The final structural beam is installed.
Construction workers install the beam at the highest point of UBS Arena during the "topping off" ceremony of the Islanders' new home at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, 2020. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
June 9, 2021: The large "UBS Arena" sign on the building’s west side is put into position.
Oct. 14, 2021: The ice is laid and painted.
Oct. 20, 2021: The Islanders’ championship banners and retired numbers are raised to the rafters.
Nov. 16, 2021: The Long Island Railroad's new station at Elmont, which was built to coincide with UBS Arena's construction, officially opens. The station, about three-quarters of a mile north of the arena, is the first new LIRR station in 50 years.
Nov. 17, 2021: A day after it opened, the new Elmont train station is renamed Elmont-UBS Arena Station after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board unanimously approves a $1.75 million, 10-year deal giving naming rights for the new stop to New York Arena Partners.
Nov. 19, 2021: A private charity concert is the first event at UBS Arena.
Nov. 20, 2021: The Islanders host the Calgary Flames in their first home game at UBS Arena.
Nick Klopsis is Newsday.com's sports editor. He often can be found studying NFL and college football film for his latest draft breakdown.
