The iconic home of the New York Islanders, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, officially bid farewell to its tenure in the NHL world. This departure followed the Islanders’ elimination during the 2022 postseason, where they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning, having advanced to the penultimate round before the Stanley Cup Final.
Ice Hockey: The Initial Impetus for the Arena
Construction of this venerable arena, located in Uniondale, just east of New York City, commenced in 1969 and was fully completed three years later in 1972. At that time, the WHA (World Hockey Association), a league that rivaled the NHL for a period, was seeking a home for its New York Raiders franchise. While the Coliseum seemed a suitable choice, Nassau County officials ultimately deemed the WHA not sufficiently professionalized, letting the opportunity to host the Raiders pass. In a strategic move to counter its rival league, the NHL decided to expand with a new franchise in the New York area, thus giving birth to the New York Islanders. This time, Nassau’s public officials raised no objections.
The Coliseum also served as home to the ABA/NBA Nets for several years, sharing the space with the Islanders.
Professional basketball also held a significant place in the Coliseum’s early history. During the 1970s (1972-1977), the Nets (then known as the New York Nets) of the ABA/NBA played several home campaigns at the Coliseum. It was here they secured their only professional titles in the 1974 and 1976 seasons.
Strong Records for the Islanders at the Coliseum
The Islanders have spent almost their entire history playing home games at the Nassau Coliseum. Only the Barclays Center temporarily shared this status for a ‘brief’ period (2015-2020), before the Islanders eventually made a full-time return to the Coliseum. On the Nassau ice, the Uniondale franchise played a grand total of 1,738 games, securing 877 victories. Another impressive statistic is the 5,952 goals scored by the Islanders within the walls of this historic arena.
Capacity Modifications Over the Years
The Coliseum, as it’s popularly known, underwent various renovations (of varying degrees of importance) throughout its history, with each modification altering its spectator capacity. Before its last significant renovation, it was the second-smallest arena in the entire NHL by fan capacity (16,170), only larger than Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre (15,321). Following the Islanders’ return to the Uniondale venue, the seating capacity dropped further to 13,917, a figure that became outdated for the league’s standards.
- 13,571 (1972–1973)
- 14,665 (1972–1973)
- 14,865 (1973–1976)
- 15,317 (1976–1978)
- 14,995 (1978–1980)
- 15,008 (1980–1981)
- 15,230 (1982–1983)
- 15,850 (1983–1984)
- 16,002 (1984–1986)
- 16,270 (1986–1987)
- 16,297 (1987–2001)
- 16,234 (2001–2009)
- 16,250 (2009–2012)
- 16,170 (2012–2015)
- 13,917 (2017–Present)
UBS Arena Takes Over
In October 2021, the Islanders officially unveiled their new arena, coinciding with the start of the new NHL season. The state-of-the-art facility is situated not far from the Nassau Coliseum, boasts a capacity for 17,113 spectators, and incorporates all the latest technological advantages.
Swiss bank UBS acquired the naming rights for the new venue, transforming it from Belmont Arena to UBS Arena. This 20-year agreement is valued at $350 million.
