What town does the New York Islanders play?

By Laine Higgins

Nov. 18, 2021 8:00 am ET

Listen to article

(2 minutes)

The New York Islanders are the closest thing the National Hockey League has to a nomad. As team ownership searched for a site to build a bespoke stadium to replace the team’s aging one on Long Island, the Isles have bounced between arenas and pandemic-proof bubbles.

This season, they’re finally settling into a permanent home in UBS Arena, a new site located next to Belmont Park. But construction delays meant that the team would have to spend its first 13 games of the 2021-22 season on the road.

Page 2

From left, Islanders Captain John Taveres, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, singer Billy Joel and Islander Cal Clutterback at a news conference on Wednesday to announce a plan to bring the Islanders back to Nassau County.Photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

By Mike Vilensky

Updated Dec. 21, 2017 11:52 am ET

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday rolled out a $1 billion plan to bring the Islanders back to Nassau County with a state-of-the-art new arena.

Mr. Cuomo held an event at Belmont Park in Nassau County to announce the new development at a location that will serve the hockey team, which moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2015.

The New York Islanders entered a new chapter in their franchise history as the puck was dropped for the first time at their new arena.

| November 20, 2021, 8:12 PM

November 20, 2021, 8:12 PM

On Saturday night, the New York Islanders played in their first game in their new home, UBS Arena.

It was momentous -- and years in the making. The Islanders had played at Nassau Coliseum, an indelible if perpetually flawed part of the Long Island hockey experience, since 1972 and then moved to the Barclays Center, an arena that was neither in Nassau County nor all that convenient for many Islanders fans.

Lacking a proper new home for the blue-and-orange left the team feeling transient, leaving many to cling to the Nassau Coliseum bunker while they awaited the arrival of something better.

Now, better is here at last. The UBS Arena, situated next to the Belmont Race Track in Elmont, N.Y., is now the official new home of the Islanders.

The inaugural game at UBS Arena generated a ton of buzz on social media, both from those within the arena and around the city itself.

From Montauk to Manhattan.
Your energy and your story is a part of ours. pic.twitter.com/DPWGvrQ9DC

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 21, 2021

#LGI
In celebration of the inaugural game at @UBSArena, The @EmpireStateBldg is lighting up blue and orange tonight. Make sure to send us your pics of it below.
mrgreen_photography/IG pic.twitter.com/zg1xv41xK2

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 20, 2021

BROCK NELSON VISITS THE TOY DEPARTMENT FOR THE FIRST GOAL AT UBS ARENA!!!
@IslesWhiteSUV pic.twitter.com/7R9Q0GGSX8

— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) November 21, 2021

LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!! #isles @UBSArena pic.twitter.com/TnAr0qyG59

— Kim M. (@IslesGirl3) November 20, 2021

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT UBS ARENA, YOUR NEW YORK ISLANDERS pic.twitter.com/mJw1HmJWFo

— Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) November 20, 2021

POV: You’re finally home. #Isles pic.twitter.com/HZ4t2R9gmj

— UBS Arena (@UBSArena) November 20, 2021

Views from #Isles press box at UBS Arena is pretty pretty sweet. pic.twitter.com/gg4gqTWxvx

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 20, 2021

We made it #isles ! @UBSArena is amazing! Let’s go @NYIslanders ! pic.twitter.com/YHyXuwAr06

— Natalie (@Barzy13Matty17) November 20, 2021

Never thought I would see this day. Every #isles fan has a reason to celebrate today. @UBSArena is absolutely phenomenal. Blown away. pic.twitter.com/YAAQOSQwwV

— Keith O'Brien (@k_obrien55) November 20, 2021

For the 2021-22 season, the New York Islanders moved to their brand new purpose-built home on Long Island; UBS Arena. Built for hockey, UBS Arena is the New York Islanders brand new state-of-the-art arena that was built specifically for the Islanders and their fans.

Incredible sight lines. Loud as hell atmosphere. Excellent amenities (and plenty of washrooms). Not to mention a bunch of fan favorite food kiosks like BlueLine Deli and Offside Tavern.

It's been a long time coming. The Islanders have effectively been nomads since 2015 when they moved to Brooklyn to take up residence at the Barclays Center. It was a rough relationship that was strenuous from the start. With UBS that is all behind them now.

Where is it?
UBS is situated in Queens at the historic Belmont Park just off the Cross Islanders Expressway. It's just over 13 miles from the Islanders previous home; the Nassau Coliseum.

2400 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont is the official address to the Isles sparkling new building.

How to get here?
How you get there will depend on where you're coming from of course. Getting there by car is easy enough just enter the address into your phone map app or in your GPS. But essentially you'll want to get off at either exit 26A, B, or D.

Public transportation is a bit tougher to navigate if you aren't a local. Again it depends on where you're coming from. The LIRR app will be incredibly helpful to check train times.

Dedicated LIRR trains for UBS leave various points through NY (Jamaica, Penn Station, Hempstead Station, Atlantic Terminal) The UBS site has a helpful guide to tell you where to get the LIRR train to get to the arena depending on where you are in the city.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

UBS Arena is accessible via public transportation and by car. Although there is parking available, it can sell out in advance depending on the event. We recommend purchasing parking in advance as well as the use of public transportation. Download the mobile apps below before your trip.

WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM?

QUEENS

15 minutes from Jamaica Station via LIRR

MANHATTAN

30 minutes from Penn Station via LIRR

WESTCHESTER/CONNECTICUT

EASTERN LONG ISLAND

20 minutes from Hempstead Station via LIRR

BROOKLYN

30 minutes from Atlantic Terminal via LIRR

HOW ARE YOU GETTING HERE?

UBS Arena has four parking areas, which can be accessed via the Cross Island Parkway. Please check your parking ahead of time as each parking area is accessed via a different exit:
- Belmont Park Garage: Exit 26A
- Diamond and Silver Parking: Exit 26B (Hempstead Turnpike East)
- Emerald Parking: Exit 26D
We encourage guests who are driving to input their parking area into their GPS for the best experience. Type the following into your GPS:
- "UBS Arena Belmont Park Garage"
- "UBS Arena Diamond Parking"
- "UBS Arena Silver Parking"
- "UBS Arena Emerald Parking"

On event days, trains run through the Belmont Park Station (existing racetrack station), Queens Village Station (existing local station), and the new Elmont-UBS Arena Station. For more information about LIRR service to UBS Arena, please review the LIRR website.

Belmont Park Station:

2 special trains will run from Jamaica Station on event days
- Customers from Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, or Long Island can take any train going to Jamaica and make a transfer to the special trains bound for Belmont Park

Queens Village Station:

Select westbound Ronkonkoma and Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch trains will make stops on event days
Eastbound and westbound Hempstead Branch trains will continue to make scheduled stops
Regular shuttles will be available before and after events to take guests to/from the arena

Elmont-UBS Arena Station:

Two-way service at Elmont-UBS Arena Station will begin with the start of the 2022-23 season
Regular shuttles will be available before and after events to take guests to/from the arena

BUS

MTA Buses

Q110 and Q2 stop near the arena

NICE Bus

N6 line stops near the arena

FERRY

Take the ferry from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson where you can connect to the LIRR.

PARKING

Parking is available for purchase prior to events via Ticketmaster. Parking is accessible via the Cross Island Parkway (cars only) exits 26A, 26B, and 26D. Purchasing parking ahead of time is preferred for all UBS Arena events.

Emerald Parking Car access only via Cross Island Parkway exit 26D
Silver Parking Car access only via Cross Island Parkway exit 26B (Hempstead Turnpike East)
Diamond Parking Car access only via Cross Island Parkway exit 26B (Hempstead Turnpike East)
Belmont Park Garage Car access only via Cross Island Parkway exit 26A

PURCHASE PARKING

Parking & Entrances/Exits

Your designated parking and garage determines which exit you should take on the Cross Island Parkway.

Shuttles

Regular shuttles before and after events will be available to and from the Queens Village and Elmont-UBS Arena LIRR Stations, arriving and departing from the Shuttle/Bus Loop located on the northwest corner of the arena, adjacent to the Belmont Park Station.

LIRR Fares

Queens Village Station is located in Fare Zone 3. Belmont Park and Elmont-UBS Arena Stations are located in Fare Zone 4.
Monthly tickets inclusive of Fare Zone 4 stations will be accepted on trains to/from Belmont Park and Elmont-UBS Arena Stations.

LIRR Customer Service

Customer Service Center agents are available to answer questions via live chat or phone between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., daily.
To speak with an agent, call 511 or 718-217-LIRR and say the word "Representative" when the prompts begin. Automated schedule information is available via phone 24/7.

Ride Share

There is a designated rideshare drop off and pick up location, which is located on the north side of the arena and can be accessed by taking the Cross Island Parkway Exit 26D.
We encourage guests to input "UBS Arena - Rideshare" into your rideshare app as your drop off / pick up location to ensure the best experience.