- The New York Islanders currently play out of Brooklyn.
- The arena will open by the 2021-22 season.
- Local neighborhoods are threatening to sue to stop the construction project.
ELMONT, N.Y. – The Empire State Development Board approved construction of the new, New York Islanders arena.
What To Expect From The Project
The total cost of the construction project is going to be $1.3 billion. The project will, of course, consist of a new arena for the New York Islanders. But that is not going to be the only thing being built. A new hotel and retail complex will also be constructed as well.
This new complex and arena will be next to the historic Belmont Park. This means that the New York Islanders will once again play in Long Island.
This move will also be good for Belmont Park. With a new hotel and retail complex, horse race fans will have a new place to stay for the races. The Belmont Stakes is the third and final race of the Triple Crown. Attendance is high for this race and this new hotel will accommodate horse race fans from all over the world.
There is a slight setback that Belmont Park has to deal with due to the construction. Races at Belmont Park have to move to a nearby aqueduct due to construction. It is currently unknown if construction will affect the 2020 Belmont Stakes.
Some Locals Are Not Happy
Not everyone is excited about the new construction project. Some residents in Elmont and Floral Park believe that this project will have a negative effect on them. They believe that traffic will increase due to the new arena and retail complex.
This area will get especially busy during the NHL season and during the Belmont Stakes. The local communities are threatening to sue to prevent the project from happening. For now, the project is greenlit. Construction of the new arena is expected to finish by the 2021-22 NHL season.
Today marks an historic occasion for the #Isles and our amazing fans!
☝️☝️☝️
The ESD Board has approved the Environmental Impact Statement for Belmont Park Arena & the schedule is on track to have our new home open for the 2021-22 season! #NextStopBelmont https://t.co/HIcqXZbC92— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 8, 2019
Speaking of the upcoming NHL seasons, SportsBettingNewYork noticed the New York Islanders betting odds are looking good for 2019-20. The NY Islanders have +500 odds of winning the Metropolitan division. Beyond that, Islanders has +1200 odds of winning the eastern conference. The New York Islanders has +2500 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. If you are wanting to bet on the NHL team from Long Island, now is the time to do so.