Islanders Receive Unanimous Approval For Belmont Park Arena

The new arena, which developers expect to cost $955M, is anticipated to open in the fall of '21New York Arena Partners

Empire State Development has "unanimously approved" a $1.3B arena and entertainment complex to be the new home of the Islanders, according to Ferrette & Baumbach of NEWSDAY. New York Arena Partners, the project developers, have "proposed a 19,000-seat arena, 350,000 square feet of upscale shops and restaurants, a 250-room hotel and parking on 43-acres of vacant state-owned property at Belmont Park." The development group is a "partnership of the owners" of the Islanders, the Mets and the Oak View Group. The new Islanders arena, which the developers expect to cost $955M, is "anticipated to open" in the fall of '21. The Franchise Oversight Board "still needs to approve the state’s environmental review before construction can begin." That approval is "expected in a matter of weeks, paving the way for a groundbreaking ceremony" (NEWSDAY, 8/9).