Posted on: September 23, 2019 02:00 PM

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Governor Cuomo breaks ground on new Belmont Park arena

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today joined the New York Islanders, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, local leaders and hockey fans to break ground on the New York Islanders' new arena at Belmont Park, the centerpiece of the $1.3 billion Belmont Park Redevelopment. In addition, Governor Cuomo announced the team has agreed to play 28 regular season games at the Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum during the 2019-2020 season, seven more than previously planned. These announcements further the Governor's efforts to turn Belmont Park into a premier sports and hospitality destination that bolsters Long Island's economy.

"The Islanders belong on Long Island ? and today we start building the state-of-the-art home this team and their fans deserve while generating thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity for the region's economy," Governor Cuomo said. "With seven more Islanders games at the Coliseum this season, fans will have even more opportunities to see their favorite team and generate momentum for the move to their new home in two years. At the end of the day this project is about building on two great Long Island traditions - Belmont Park and the Islanders - and making them greater than ever."

Announced in December 2017, the Belmont Redevelopment Project will turn 43 acres of underutilized parking lots at Belmont Park into a premier sports and hospitality destination, including a new 19,000-seat arena for the New York Islanders hockey team and other events, a 250-key hotel, a state-of-the-art retail village and office and community space. In addition, the project developers - New York Belmont Partners - will improve two local parks in the surrounding community.

Through an innovative public-private partnership, the developers will also help fund a new full-time Long Island Rail Road station in Elmont ? the first new, full-time LIRR stop in nearly 50 years. This new station will allow riders to access to new arena, hotel, and retail village from both the east and west, while providing a new commuting option for Long Islanders.

The new arena is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2021 - 2022 hockey season. Over the next two years, construction of the arena, hotel and retail village is expected to create 10,000 jobs and generate $2.7 billion in economic activity. By 2024, the project is expected to sustain 3,200 new full-time jobs, produce $858 million in annual economic activity and generate tens of millions of dollars in new annual tax revenue.

Beginning in October 2019, the Islanders have agreed to play 28 regular season games at NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, during the 2019-2020 hockey season ? seven more than previously announced. In total, 68 percent of the team's regular season home games during the 2019-2020 season will now be played at the Coliseum. The team is able to play at the Coliseum thanks to $6 million in state-funded upgrades to the building. In January 2018, Governor Cuomo announced the Islanders would return to Long Island three years ahead of schedule, later announcing the team would play 20 games ? or roughly half of their regular season home games ? on Long Island.

For approximately two years, Empire State Development and New York Belmont Partners, and its affiliate, New York Arena Partners ? a joint venture among Sterling Equities, the Scott Malkin Group and the Oak View Group ? have shepherded the Belmont Redevelopment Project through a rigorous and transparent public review process, which included 12 public meetings and hearings and dozens of meetings with local organizations and stakeholders. Thanks to input from local officials, community members and the project's Community Advisory Committee, the project was improved at each iteration in the review process - culminating in the addition of the new Elmont LIRR station. Earlier this summer, the project received its public approvals from the Empire State Development Board of Directors, the Franchise Oversight Board and the Public Authorities Control Board.

The Belmont Redevelopment complements the billions of dollars invested on Long Island since Governor Cuomo took office - supporting the region's world-class academic and research institutions, revitalizing downtowns, bolstering the agriculture, manufacturing and life sciences sectors, improving infrastructure and investing in Long Island's tourism industry. Thanks to these commitments, Long Island's unemployment rate has fallen from 7.1% in June 2011 to 3.1% this year, while tourism spending has grown more than 20% to nearly $6 billion. The 28 million tourists who visit Long Island annually support more than 75,000 jobs. (From NYS Governor's press release)