On Saturday night, the New York Islanders played in their first game in their new home, UBS Arena.
It was momentous — and years in the making. The Islanders had played at Nassau Coliseum, an indelible if perpetually flawed part of the Long Island hockey experience, since 1972 and then moved to the Barclays Center, an arena that was neither in Nassau County nor all that convenient for many Islanders fans.
Lacking a proper new home for the blue-and-orange left the team feeling transient, leaving many to cling to the Nassau Coliseum bunker while they awaited the arrival of something better.
Now, better is here at last. The UBS Arena, situated next to the Belmont Race Track in Elmont, N.Y., is now the official new home of the Islanders.
The inaugural game at UBS Arena generated a ton of buzz on social media, both from those within the arena and around the city itself.
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From Montauk to Manhattan.
Your energy and your story is a part of ours. pic.twitter.com/DPWGvrQ9DC
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 21, 2021
In celebration of the inaugural game at @UBSArena, The @EmpireStateBldg is lighting up blue and orange tonight. Make sure to send us your pics of it below.
mrgreen_photography/IG pic.twitter.com/zg1xv41xK2
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 20, 2021
BROCK NELSON VISITS THE TOY DEPARTMENT FOR THE FIRST GOAL AT UBS ARENA!!!
@IslesWhiteSUV pic.twitter.com/7R9Q0GGSX8
— Islanders Videos (@SNY_Islanders) November 21, 2021
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!! #isles @UBSArena pic.twitter.com/TnAr0qyG59
— Kim M. (@IslesGirl3) November 20, 2021
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT UBS ARENA, YOUR NEW YORK ISLANDERS pic.twitter.com/mJw1HmJWFo
— Isles on MSG+ (@IslesMSGN) November 20, 2021
POV: You’re finally home. #Isles pic.twitter.com/HZ4t2R9gmj
— UBS Arena (@UBSArena) November 20, 2021
Views from #Isles press box at UBS Arena is pretty pretty sweet. pic.twitter.com/gg4gqTWxvx
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) November 20, 2021
We made it #isles ! @UBSArena is amazing! Let’s go @NYIslanders ! pic.twitter.com/YHyXuwAr06
— Natalie (@Barzy13Matty17) November 20, 2021
Never thought I would see this day. Every #isles fan has a reason to celebrate today. @UBSArena is absolutely phenomenal. Blown away. pic.twitter.com/YAAQOSQwwV
— Keith O'Brien (@k_obrien55) November 20, 2021
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