OVG CEO Tim Leiweke Expecting Full Capacity for UBS Arena Opening Night

When the New York Islanders hit the ice at their new home of UBS Arena at Belmont Park in the fall, Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke expects the building to be at 100 percent capacity, according to AM Metro New York’s Joe Pantorno.

Leiweke made the comments during a media tour of the construction site of the new arena, which is scheduled to open in November of this year. When completed UBS Arena will hold 17,500 fans for hockey games, and the Oak View Group CEO expects every one of those seats to be filled.

OVG CEO Tim Leiweke admitted he had a talk with #NHL commish Gary Bettman and that a “dream scenario” would be Belmont Park/UBS arena hosting the Stakes and a Stanley Cup game on the same June day.#Isles

— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) April 22, 2021

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo toured the site last week during an event at the site to announce that construction workers building the arena would be fully vaccinated. The Governor touted the project as one of the highlights of a post-COVID-New York.

“It’s going to be one of the best facilities in the United States of America. That’s what we’re building here,” Cuomo said at the time.

Construction is 75 percent completed on UBS Arena, according to Newsday, but the paper also reported that Leiweke said the last 25 percent is the toughest. The Oak View Group CEO is confident that they will meet their November opening date, according to Newsday.

The Islanders will be the main attraction for the new venue, but UBS Arena officials are also planning to prioritize concerts, NCAA basketball, WWE, UFC and Disney on Ice, News 12’s Jamie Stuart reported.

Besides the Islanders and concerts…UBS Arena officials say they will target the NCAA Tournament, WWE, UFC and Disney On Ice events. @News12LI pic.twitter.com/6CxfaQM6Qk

— jamie stuart (@N12jamiestuart) April 22, 2021

In addition to the arena, the project includes a hotel, shopping and restaurant district, community space and a new Long Island Rail Road station.

The Islanders broke ground on the Belmont Park site nearly two years ago during a ceremony outside the famed horse racing site. Cuomo, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and other dignitaries were all on hand during the Sept. 23, 2019 ceremony.

The Islanders are playing their final season before the move at the Nassau Coliseum.