One year later, Islanders’ UBS Arena a gleaming light for the future of the organization

A year ago today, a shovel was put in the ground.

It symbolized a new beginning. A long-awaited moment. And overall, a monumental afternoon for the New York Islanders organization.

After years of trying and failed attempts for an arena, the Isles finally broke ground on their future home next to Belmont Park.

“We celebrate this historic day with our loyal fans and thank Governor Cuomo, who has championed the Belmont Park Arena project from the start,” co-owner Jon Ledecky said during the festivities. “The Islanders also thank the elected officials and our community for their support in helping reach this franchise milestone.”

A historic occasion indeed, now exactly one year later, UBS Arena — for which the Islanders’ new home was named back in July — has become the shining light for the future of the franchise.

The building, which is slated to be ready for the beginning of the 2021-22 season, is nearly halfway done, with work expected to begin on the inside at the start of the new year, that according Ledecky and Oak View CEO Tim Leiweke. But it isn’t just the rapid construction pace of the building that has brought a new found hope for the organization.

NHL Free Agency doesn’t commence until October 9th, and with their new home on the horizon, Ledecky said yesterday on a Zoom chat with fans that the Islanders are now a “top-center discussion when it comes to free agents” along with the excellent practice facility just a short drive down the road in East Meadow, Northwell Ice Center. That’s a huge change from where the franchise was not even two or three years ago.

The building though is the real selling point.

UBS Arena will be the newest building in the league and already has become the attraction to which g.m. Lou Lamoriello can point out to big-time names who might consider playing on Long Island.

“The players walk into the bowl, walk around and go, ‘My God, this place is beautiful,’” was how Leiweke sees what the future may hold. “I see it happening with the Rams and Chargers in Los Angeles. I see it happening with Raiders in Las Vegas. I think that’s gonna happen to the Islanders. So, Lou [Lamoriello] has a better time keeping players and recruiting players. Barry [Trotz] has a better time creating that culture and that brand and that style that he wants to play. It feeds off one another.”

For the franchise, their new digs also plays into the success the team has now established on the ice recently. The Isles are coming off their first Conference Finals appearance in 27 years and two consecutive playoff seasons to boot. That UBS Arena will house a “win-now” team with the current GM of the year (Lamoriello) and arguably the best coach in the NHL (Trotz) at the helm, has only made the build-up to the opening much more exciting.

Even just a month ago, the team announced the demand for season tickets has already exceeded expectations, with just 20% remaining.

And then there’s the fan base.

You couldn’t find one supporter of this team that doesn’t have a glimmer in their eye every time the word Belmont is uttered. The fans have embraced that enthusiasm and continue to marvel at the fact that they will soon be able to have the home they’ve dreamt about for so long.

“I think that’s the legacy — the Islanders have deserved a home for 30 years,” Ledecky told the media earlier this month. “And the fans really have been patient, and now they’ve got a new home. “We’re trying to set an example and we’re trying to have an organization of excellence. I think [UBS] shared our vision that the Islanders are a community treasure.”

In the time since groundbreaking, UBS Arena has already transformed the Islanders as a franchise. But really it’s only the beginning of what’s coming.

NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman said a year ago, “This will go down as one of the great days in the history of the New York Islanders because this is the day that assures everybody who has anything to do with the Islanders, who cares anything about the Islanders, who’s passionate about the Islanders as Islander fans are, this is the future of this franchise right here on Long Island,” were Commissioner Gary Bettman’s words a year ago.

He was spot on. The future of the franchise on Long Island has never been in better shape.

And it’s UBS Arena which has become the gleaming light.