Islanders Beaming at UBS Arena Progress

A foundational piece of UBS Arena was set in place on Friday afternoon, as the final steel beam was set on the building's roof truss.
Physically, the steel beam is painted white with a red UBS logo, and covered with the black scribbles of construction workers and arena partners, who have worked tirelessly to build the arena over the past year.

What it represents is another major milestone in the building's construction, completing the foundation for the roof to be set. A topping out ceremony was held to mark the occasion, with Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke among the attendees.
"Islanders nation deserves a world class, state-of-the-art building and with that beam going in, it's one step closer to welcoming everyone to the 2021-22 season of New York Islanders hockey at the UBS Arena," Ledecky said.

As the beam was hoisted into position via crane, Leiweke, whose firm has developed state-of-the-art arenas including STAPLES Center in LA and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, was already scanning the building for the next thing to be done.
"I'm looking at the next beam," Leiweke said. "Builders always say, not 'what have we done today?' but 'what do I have to do?' Believe it or not drywall is more important to me because drywall means we've fully enclosed the arena. When we get it fully enclosed by the end of this year we can start working on the subtrades and on finishes. For us, our job for the Islanders fans is not to gloat about what we've done, but stay focused on what we have to do."
That attitude is behind the rapid development at the Belmont Park site. Ledecky reflected on the groundbreaking ceremony a year ago, when shovels were hitting dirt and mountains of soil were piling up all around.
PLACE YOUR DEPOSIT AT UBS ARENA
Today, the site is unrecognizable. UBS Arena has taken shape, with a steel exterior set, a brick façade being laid and a metal roof covering roughly half of the arena bowl. Thousands of steel beams have been set and 27,000 cubic yards of concrete have been poured in the past year. The foundation of the Islanders' 25,000 sq. foot locker room is being laid and the "Rolls-Royce" of ice plants is already in place. The building is on track to open for the 2021-22 season.
"What amazed me at the beginning of this project was just how many people didn't have faith that we'd be able to pull it off," Leiweke said. "Today when you look around here, what you know is that there's a certainty, a schedule, a completion date and an end game here… We are the only team in the NHL without a permanent home right now and it's time that the Islanders fans not just have one, but have the best one."
With the arena physically taking shape, one thing is clear, the building will be intimate and the sightlines will be second-to-none in the NHL - two qualities the team wanted to preserve from Nassau Coliseum. The lower bowl will be one of the biggest in the NHL, while the upper bowl will have three tiers - and three concourses - to help alleviate congestion during intermissions and long waits for bathrooms and concessions.

"Scott Malkin] and Jon were really good at talking about Nassau Coliseum noise, but UBS Arena amenities," Leiweke said. "I was focused on making sure we were equally as good for music. What's unique about this building, whether it's the design, the bowl or the acoustics, is that it will be very loud for hockey and we'll recreate that environment and that culture that the fans have created at Nassau Coliseum, but it'll be one of the best places to see a concert anywhere in the world."
Per fan requests, the ceiling will be low to force sound down to the ice and seats took priority over suites. UBS Arena will have 56 suites, the fewest of the major arenas in the area, but that's by design to put Islanders fans first. That doesn't mean any expense will be spared, as the building clubs are being designed after the Oak Room at The Plaza and Count Basie bar at The St. Regis.
"Everything [Oak View Group] touches is cutting edge, spectacular and state-of-the-art and represents first-class planning and execution and that's what we're seeing here," Bettman said during a speech on Friday. "You can look around and see this is going to be one spectacular building."
**[PHOTO GALLERY: UBS ARENA TOPPING CEREMONY**
A state-of-the-art building is another piece of the ascent into a top-tier organization, part of what Ledecky often refers to as a mosaic. The Islanders have one of the league's top practice facilities in Northwell Health Ice Center. They have a Hall of Fame General Manager in Lou Lamoriello and one of the winningest coaches in NHL history in Barry Trotz. UBS Arena will be the crown jewel. The Islanders' arena will go from being one of the oldest in the league, to state-of-the-art and on the cutting edge. All of it is intended to make the team an attractive spot for free agents and a team hockey fans can be proud to root for.
"It's a fabulous day for the New York Islanders and the fans," Ledecky said. "This is all about the fans and this arena is being built for them and by them. They gave us the advice and the input and we're bringing the best of Nassau Coliseum over to here. The intimacy of this wonderful, big lower bowl and all the great amenities of a 21st century arena. We couldn't be more proud."
Tweet from @91Butch: Our jerseys will be in the toy department and the the beam will have our signatures forever pic.twitter.com/zKISvCbqcz
That was worth celebrating on Friday. Isles legends Butch Goring, John Tonelli and Clark Gillies were on hand to muse about where their jerseys will hang, while representatives from the Governor's office, UBS and Northwell Health touted the tremendous work of the unionized construction workers bringing the arena to life. Bettman praised the building's construction as a beacon of hope and eventual return to normalcy, when fans can be in the stands again to cheer on the Islanders.
"The arena looks great, the progress looks fantastic," Bettman said. "I couldn't be more excited and I hope Islanders fans and everyone one on Long Island is excited about what this arena represents."
In the Commissioner's words: "It represents the strength and stability of the Islanders franchise."
A foundational piece of the building was put in place on Friday. With a UBS Arena on the way, and a contending team on the ice the Islanders foundation is being set for years to come.