Islanders' Arena At Belmont Park Expected To Be Ready For Start Of '21-22 NHL Season

The Islanders’ planned arena at Belmont Park is "expected to take more than three years to complete, which would put the opening" near the start of the '21-22 NHL season, according to a front-page piece by Jim Baumbach of NEWSDAY. An analysis of the state approval and construction process indicates that "at least 38 months would be needed before the 18,000-seat arena could be ready." The Isles remain hopeful the arena can "open sooner than 2021 because the team’s partners in the development" -- which include Oak View Group and Sterling Project Development -- are "experienced in building stadiums and arenas." Barring "unforeseen delays and factoring in the best-case scenarios," the environmental review process would begin in March and be "completed in 12 months." Construction would begin in March '19. It takes 26 months to "complete the arena, taking the timeline of completion" to May '21 before the NHL season begins in October (NEWSDAY, 1/16).