UBS Arena News and the Future of Live Music

The UBS Arena is an exciting addition to the live music scene, and we've got the scoop on what's new and what's next. The arena has already hosted some incredible acts, including The Who and Billy Joel.

One of the most notable features of the UBS Arena is its state-of-the-art sound system, which is designed to provide an immersive experience for every seat in the house. This means that no matter where you're sitting, you'll be able to feel the energy of the performance.

The arena's seating capacity is approximately 17,500, making it an intimate setting for both performers and audiences. This smaller size allows for a more personal connection between the two, creating a truly unique experience.

The UBS Arena is also committed to sustainability, with a goal of reducing its carbon footprint through the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient systems.

The UBS Arena is a game-changer for the Islanders, with a 49-year lease and revenue sharing agreement in place.

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Located on the 400-plus acres of Belmont Park, the arena has an immediate advantage over other New York arenas due to its location. The site provided a blank canvas for the partners and architects to design the perfect venue for music and professional hockey.

The arena's campus development has been a major focus, with $130 million spent on building a new 1,500-car garage and an underpass that connects to the parking deck and retail area. Over 5,000 parking spaces are available, making it one of the largest parking areas for an arena in the state.

The arena officially opened on November 19, 2021, with a private fundraising event featuring rock band Chicago.

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The Islanders played their preseason home games at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, home of their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.

The team's regular season got off to a unique start with 13 consecutive road games.

UBS Arena officially opened its doors on November 19, 2021, with a private fundraising event featuring the legendary rock band Chicago.

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The UBS Arena is an impressive venue that offers a unique experience for fans. It's located on a 400-plus-acre site at Belmont Park, providing an immediate advantage over other New York arenas.

The arena partners signed a 49-year lease with the state to use the property, as well as a revenue-sharing agreement on parking money with the New York Racing Association. This deal allowed the arena to be designed however the partners and their architects decided.

The site's design flexibility is a major perk, as it's surrounded by over 5,000 parking spaces, including a new 1,500-car garage. The arena's location also allows for a Long Island Railroad stop to be built nearby, which will open ahead of the 2022-23 NHL season.

The arena's campus development was a significant investment, with $130 million spent on infrastructure, including an underpass that connects to the parking deck and retail area. This development has created a perfect venue for music and professional hockey.

The arena's systems integration was a complex process, with the team facing challenges such as supply-chain issues and delays. Despite these obstacles, the team was able to complete the project on schedule, with the grand opening taking place in 2022.

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UBS Arena boasts the largest arena scoreboard in New York state. The facility features two levels of high-resolution LED ribbon boards and state-of-the-art sound systems that leverage world-class acoustics to amplify the audio experience.

The arena's sound system is powered by Crown I-Tech Series and DCi Series amplifiers, with network control/DSP provided by BSS Soundweb London devices. Over 950 JBL loudspeakers, including eight main bowl arrays of JBL VTX A12 speakers, are used to provide top-notch sound quality.

The arena's superior acoustics are achieved through the use of absorptive materials on vertical surfaces, upholstered seating, and sound-absorbing baffles suspended below the structural roof deck.

UBS Arena is designed with music in mind, thanks to OVG's focus on live music in its buildings, influenced by co-owner Azoff's experience as a manager of the Eagles and his A-list clients.

The arena expects to host 150 events annually, including 50 to 60 concerts, which is a significant number considering its price tag.

Leiweke said that UBS Arena won't compete directly with Madison Square Garden, but rather try to live up to that experience.

The arena's superior acoustics are a standout feature, thanks to the use of absorptive materials on vertical surfaces to soak up the sound.

The facility features state-of-the-art sound systems that leverage world-class acoustics to amplify the audio experience, making it an ideal venue for concerts.

UBS Arena has signed a deal with Feld to bring the company's various shows to Long Island, starting with Disney On Ice in January, which is expected to change the market for sure.

The UBS Arena project was particularly challenging, from completing the foundation to putting on the finishing touches before the grand opening.

The groundbreaking ceremony was in 2019, and then, one year later, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, causing hindrances that lingered into 2021.

The clock began to tick on the club and system integrator Diversified to cross the finish line before the first few events in November.

Islanders' ownership doubled down because they really wanted this building to be open for fans to enjoy.

An Allen & Heath D-Live S5000 mixer controls audio in the venue.

There were a couple of real hardships that came from supply-chain issues toward the end of the project, including some equipment being originally designed around another piece of equipment, so they had to be redesigned, and that caused other delays.

The hardware and software being used at UBS Arena are relatively new for most of the sports-video-production landscape.

There aren't a lot of people you can reach out to, which put the team on a little bit of an island to experience and learn from these challenges.

The team had to wait for the experts when a certain question without an answer popped up.

The attention to detail at UBS Arena is impressive, especially when it comes to the touring acts' experience. The loading dock is a game-changer, with 65,000 square feet of space that's enclosed and heated, accommodating 10-plus trailers and seven loading bays with direct access to the arena floor.

This setup makes a big difference, especially in cold markets where equipment and gear would normally be loaded onto elevators or pushed up ramps. It speeds things up, allowing acts to get in and out quicker, and saving time is money.

The loading area is also ventilated, which means tour buses can run indoors, providing a valuable oasis for performers or crew members on the road. This is a nice touch, especially for acts like Drake, who has 27 trucks, or Bruce Springsteen, who has 12.

The artists' compound is another highlight, with 3,300 square feet of secluded space where performers can prepare in comfort and style. It includes four dressing rooms, three separate green rooms, a kitchen, bars, and clubs – all within a 10-second walk from the stage.

This level of luxury is appreciated by performers, particularly female artists who often have to deal with uncomfortable sports locker rooms. Having a private area for women to shower or for hours-long makeup, hair, and wardrobe sessions is a welcome perk on the road.

The Islanders are gearing up for an exciting future, especially with their 50th anniversary season just around the corner. This milestone marks a significant chapter in the franchise's history.

The team's production and operations teams are working hard to ensure a successful season, with a focus on catapulting both the team and their in-venue technologies into a future filled with success.

UBS Arena is a key part of this plan, and it's been a game-changer for the Islanders. The arena opened its doors just a year ago, on November 20, 2021, with a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Their first home win at the arena came on December 11, 2022, in a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils. The Islanders are now looking to build on this momentum and make the most of their home games.

The arena's first Stanley Cup playoffs game took place on April 21, 2023, when the Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 5-1. Casey Cizikas of the Islanders scored the first playoff goal in the arena.

In the not-too-distant future, UBS Arena will host the 2026 NHL All-Star Game. The arena was awarded this honor during the 2024 NHL Stadium Series on February 18, 2024.

The UBS Arena is a game-changer for the Long Island market, with a huge addressable ticket audience reaching beyond just the local area, but also parts of Connecticut and New Jersey.

The arena's premium offerings are top-notch, designed by Goodrich, and include a speakeasy hidden in the venue's gut, 38 suites, 20 loft boxes, 18 event-level suites with direct access to the seating bowl, and 10 bars that open right onto the seating bowl.

The premium areas are truly impressive, with Calka calling them the "nicest I've seen in my career", which is saying something given his experience with the Yankees and BSE Global.

The Heineken Terrace is an outdoor bar above the arena's main entrance that offers a great view of the campus, and Leiweke thinks it could even include a 5,000-6,000-seat theater someday.

The UBS Arena has already seen significant success, with over 12,000 season tickets sold out and a waiting list for the first time in team history.

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The Islanders have also exceeded their sponsorship revenue numbers, thanks in part to the ability to incorporate brands into the arena, something they couldn't do at their previous venues.

The arena's sponsorship roster is nearly full, and Calka predicts that the business will see "very large growth" from year to year.