They’re finally in the home stretch, and you can feel it the moment you step into this new corner of Nassau County. After weeks of buzz and last-minute touches, Belmont Park racetrack has reopened, and it’s not just horse racing that’s changing — the entire neighborhood around adjacent UBS Arena is coming alive like never before. For years, these two massive properties existed side by side but somehow separate. Now they feel like one giant playground, with fans in Islanders jerseys paying a modest ten bucks for general admission to watch a few afternoon races, then strolling a few hundred steps to see their hockey team crush the Devils 6-0 in the home opener. Kate kind of moment, honestly. The old Belmont grandstand was bulky, concrete, and intimidating; the new design is open, airy, and welcoming. People are showing up early, hanging around, grabbing a drink, watching horses thunder down the stretch, and then casually making their way to the arena. Kelly Cheeseman, the Islanders’ director of business operations, told The Post that the NHL has already been talking about something truly exciting: an outdoor hockey game played on the spacious infield. “I think we’d love to see that,” she said. And why not? Imagine skating where horses usually run, with the grandstand packed and the Belmont Park lights glowing overhead. It would be a spectacle unlike anything the area has ever seen, and with the track able to expand to 50,000 people for the Belmont Stakes in June, there’s plenty of room for imagination.
The energy isn’t just from the racing itself, though. David O’Rourke, the CEO of NYRA, stood in front of the reopened complex and put it simply: “It’s really a campus now.” That word matters. A campus suggests something connected, walkable, and alive at all hours, not just on race days or game nights. The redesigned paddock is twice the size of the old one, and O’Rourke loves how it puts fans nose-to-nose with the horses. You can lean on the rail and watch these powerful animals up close, feel their breath in the cool afternoon air, and hear their hooves on the ground before they head out to the track. “The track has something for everyone at this point,” he said. For newcomers, there’s an inviting open feeling that makes race-watching feel casual and fun, not intimidating. For devoted racing fans, it’s a chance to experience the sport in a way that feels more personal. The infield, which will soon be accessible to fans for events, is being eyed for all sorts of possibilities beyond racing. Cheeseman has talked about music festivals, food festivals, and wine tastings in that wide green space. O’Rourke even pointed out that the expanded paddock could double as a mini amphitheater for more intimate performances. If you had a quieter, cozier concert, he explained, you could set up right there in the paddock, with the horses as a backdrop. The whole place is turning into an entertainment complex where you can come for a horse race, stay for dinner, and end up watching an NHL game without ever feeling like you traveled far.
One of the most interesting shifts has been how the Islanders’ beloved pregame fan zone had to move and change shape to make room for all this new construction. For years, fans were used to walking up to the arena and finding a lively outdoor setup where they could shoot pucks at full-size nets using former players’ sticks, play corn hole, warm their hands at fire pits, let the kids jump in bounce castles, and listen to music on a big stage. That space had become a cherished ritual for blue-and-orange supporters, a chance to get hyped before the puck dropped. But with Belmont Park’s new footprint, that zone had to squeeze into a smaller spot near UBS Arena’s Amex entrance. The vibe is still there, but there’s one noticeable change: it’s no longer a bring-your-own-beverage kind of party. Instead, a $5 beer garden has been installed, which means you can still grab a cold one, but you’re doing it through vendors now. Some fans might miss the old days of tossing back their own drinks, but the core spirit remains. People still gather, laugh, and share the excitement of game day in a space that feels more like a modern village square than a typical arena tailgate. It’s all part of a broader effort to make every visit feel like an event, not just a hockey game. Cheeseman pointed out that the focus this year is on “fun and creativity,” especially when it comes to attracting younger fans. The team has a thrilling crop of young players like Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund, who speak directly to a new generation. Their energy on the ice mirrors the energy around the arena, and the front office clearly wants to match it with experiences that feel fresh, playful, and a little unexpected.
Inside UBS Arena itself, there’s been a whole other set of upgrades that make you want to arrive early and stay late. A golf simulator was recently installed on the suite level, and it includes virtual access to iconic Long Island courses like Bethpage and Shinnecock. That’s a smart nod to the local culture, because golf is just as much a part of Island life as hockey and horse racing. Cheeseman said they’re trying to represent the culture of Long Island, and golf is definitely one of those threads. There are also new synchronized light shows, smoke cannons, and about 90 extra seats in the building, giving the arena a fresh, electric feeling during games. When you combine those upgrades with the fact that UBS Arena will host the NHL All-Star Game in February, there’s a sense that this venue is entering its prime. But the most talked-about addition might be the food. The arena introduced a kid-friendly frankenfood that went viral almost immediately: a brie grilled cheese with gummy Nerds clusters melted into it. Yes, you read that right. It sounds wild, and honestly, it looks even wilder, but fans can’t stop talking about it. It’s the kind of playful, over-the-top creation that gets people sharing photos and daring each other to try it. Schaefer might score goals, but this bizarre sandwich might be scoring just as many views online. All of this is part of a broader push to make UBS Arena feel more family-friendly and more memorable, a place where the experience matters as much as the final score.
Across Hempstead Turnpike, the connected Belmont Park Village shopping district has undergone its own transformation, and it’s quickly becoming another reason to spend the whole day in the area. Since August, the luxury retail hub has added eight new stores, including G-Star, Kiton, and Monica Vinader, and another twelve are expected to open by Black Friday. That includes brands like Reiss, famously worn by Kate Middleton, and Boss. Valerie Leon, the president of the village, described the mood as one of “curiosity and excitement,” especially with the accelerated opening of twenty storefronts in such a short window. Right now, sixty of Belmont’s ninety stores are ready for the fall season, with the final thirty expected to open by early 2027. There’s also a big, upscale restaurant in the works, which Leon says will be announced in the new year, adding even more dining options to an area that’s already becoming a foodie destination. The village isn’t just about shopping, though. There are plans for family-friendly Halloween events later in October, including a fall maze and other spooky attractions. On October 17th, there’s a SoulCycle partnership ride with Northwell Health, giving people a chance to sweat it out before grabbing a bite and catching a game. It feels less like a typical mall and more like a town center, where people gather for wellness, entertainment, and fashion all in one place. Leon says they’ve definitely seen an increase in footsteps over the past few weeks, and you can understand why. Between the races, the hockey games, the shopping, and the endless food options, there’s almost too much to do in a single visit.
Looking ahead, the crossover between hockey and horse racing is only going to get stronger. Islanders-themed Dot cakes are expected to show up at kiosks in the open-air concourse, giving fans a sweet taste of team spirit alongside their shopping. There will be more activations around the All-Star Game, and Cheeseman envisions the village doubling over for live music on game days, turning the entire district into a pregame and postgame destination. Even when the Islanders are on the road, the village will be buzzing with events, so there’s always a reason to come out. Leon’s observation about increased footsteps is telling; the old days of just showing up for a race or a game and leaving are over. Now, people are parking once and staying for hours, moving from the paddock to the arena to the shops to the restaurants in one long, delightful loop. The dream of an outdoor hockey game on the infield would be the ultimate symbol of this new era, a moment where the two worlds genuinely collide. But even without that, the transformation is already remarkable. They’re finally in the home stretch, and it’s not just about the finish line ahead — it’s about enjoying every step along the way. The track is open, the arena is buzzing, the shops are filling up, and the energy is contagious. For anyone who loves sports, food, fashion, or just being part of something new, this corner of Long Island has become one of the most exciting places to be right now.
