The mystery persists: how many suites does the new Islanders' arena have? (and how could one-third have been sold in the "last two weeks"?)
Ticket Demand Booming for New York Islanders' Inaugural Season at UBS Arena at Belmont Park, stated a press release 8/25/20:
I asked the team's p.r. contact a simple question: how many suites are there? I didn't get an answer.
Why such lack of candor? My guess is that the number of suites is fewer than once anticipated-- perhaps because of cost, perhaps because of the desire to maintain flexibility.
So, while it sounds like they've sold a decent proportion of suites, the number may not be very high. After all, the arena's not exactly within an easy commute from Wall Street.
That also diminishes one of the rationales for a new arena.
Shifting story
As I wrote 7/30/20:
More coverage
Sports Business reported that the team has sold nearly 10,000 season tickets for the debut 2021-22 season, compared with 3,500 two years ago, in a season split between the Barclays Center and the Nassau Coliseum, and nearly 7,000 last year, when more games were shifted to the Coliseum.
But it didn't report on the number of suites. Nor did Long Island Weekly, NY Sports Day, and Sports Business Daily (as far as I can tell, it's paywalled).
The New York Islanders Hockey Club has seen ticket demand skyrocket over the last month. Last week was the all-time record for Islanders season ticket sales, driven by the team's first round series win and by the recent launch of UBS Arena at Belmont Park. Only 20 percent of season tickets remain available for the inaugural 2021-22 NHL season.(Emphasis added)
...The Islanders also expect to be sold out of premium inventory by early next year. UBS Arena at Belmont Park has sold more than one-third of its suite inventory in the last two weeks.
I asked the team's p.r. contact a simple question: how many suites are there? I didn't get an answer.
Why such lack of candor? My guess is that the number of suites is fewer than once anticipated-- perhaps because of cost, perhaps because of the desire to maintain flexibility.
So, while it sounds like they've sold a decent proportion of suites, the number may not be very high. After all, the arena's not exactly within an easy commute from Wall Street.
That also diminishes one of the rationales for a new arena.
Shifting story
As I wrote 7/30/20:
When Newsday 7/22/20 reported on the naming rights deal, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky said more than a third of the suites have been sold at Belmont. But no information about the number of suites exists on the arena web site or the press release, or on the Isles' web site.Wait: how could more than one-third of the suite inventory have been sold in the last two weeks if it had already been sold more than a month ago?
More coverage
Sports Business reported that the team has sold nearly 10,000 season tickets for the debut 2021-22 season, compared with 3,500 two years ago, in a season split between the Barclays Center and the Nassau Coliseum, and nearly 7,000 last year, when more games were shifted to the Coliseum.
But it didn't report on the number of suites. Nor did Long Island Weekly, NY Sports Day, and Sports Business Daily (as far as I can tell, it's paywalled).
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