"I don't get those questions anymore. I get text messages and calls from people saying, 'wow that's unbelievable,'" Ledecky said. "They'll take a photo and send it to me, which is really sweet and makes me smile because it shows how much they love this team and are so thrilled about this actually happening."
As grand as the aerial shots of the building are, it's details that have Ledecky excited for UBS Arena. It's the eight bars facing the bowl so that fans don't miss any action when they get a drink. It's wiring the arena with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, which he called the "guts" of the building, so that it can evolve and adapt with the latest tech.
"The building has good DNA," Ledecky said. "It may be transparent for the fans, but it is so interesting to get that tour and see the thoughtfulness of how the building is being built, making sure the materials are the best."
While Ledecky has made a point to include fan input, the Islanders' players, coaches and staff have helped design the ideal locker room, training room and medical facilities. The player campus should be approximately 23,000 square feet when it's all said and done and is designed to meet the needs of the staff who use it most.
The arena will also be suited to the player's needs on the ice, as a state-of-the-art ice plant was delivered to the construction site on August 17. UBS Arena will feature some of the best ice in the NHL, as it features steel piping instead of PVC piping, representing the kind of investment and commitment the Isles ownership group is putting into the building.