An update on the $1 billion arena project in Elmont, New York, revealed that the new home for that National Hockey League’s New York Islanders could be up and running by October 2021, with construction starting this spring.

The Update

Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the Islanders, told reporters of the updated schedule last week. The next milestone that the project needs to hit is the release of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement, slated for the end of 2018’s fourth quarter.

Sterling Project Development

An update on the $1 billion arena project in Elmont, New York, revealed that the new home for that National Hockey League’s New York Islanders could be up and running by October 2021, with construction starting this spring.

Other milestones include:

• Public hearing on the project and DEIS, also Q4 2018;
• Release of Final Environmental Impact Statement, Q2 2019;
• Start of construction, Q2 2019; and
• Project opening, Q4 2021.

The firm spearheading the privately funded project is New York Arena Partners, a joint venture between Sterling Equities, the Scott Malkin Group, Madison Square Garden and the Oak View Group. The current design team includes JRDC Architects, Populous and Stantec.

The proposed development not only includes an 18,000-seat hockey arena, but also a 250-room hotel,;435,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space; 30,000 square feet of office space; 10,000 square feet of community space and parking space for about 7,000 vehicles. 

In addition to the environmental review process, the public comment period might also provide a hurdle or two as local residents claim that the development will increase traffic congestion, noise and pollution.

The project, though, is estimated to generate more than 12,000 construction jobs and more than 3,100 permanent jobs.