Or music knowledge.
To trade Josh Bailey?The heart wants what the heart wants.
Or music knowledge.
If you really gotta go, you don't even need the TP if you've got the foliage - just have to make sure it's not sumac or something....
Had a zoom call with a VIP ticket agent for the Isles Tuesday (for something called the Loft Club). Was very helpful to see all the features and learn a lot more about the arena. He also sent me a follow up email, so I have some documents showing more detailed information on the whole arena as well as pricing for all the VIP sections (Loft Club, Spotlight Club, UBS Clubs & Boxes, 1905 Club).
Things I learned:
- If you buy a VIP package you will have access to the parking lots within walking distance to the arena, but if you get regular season tickets you will have to park in the lot north of the racetrack and shuttle over.
- Not sure about regular season tickets, but if you buy any VIP season tix you have to commit to 3 years minimum. The longer you commit the less your annual season increases will be. I understand why the team is doing this and it's smart from their perspective.
- If you purchase VIP ticket package you will get first access to concerts and events - Basically to buy those 2 same tickets for those other UBS Arena events.
- The concert stage will be on the opposite side of where the Isles shoot twice so if you were buying VIP tickets with the thought of having access to them for concerts you may want to be slightly to the side of where the Isles shoot once.
- The ticket rep must've mentioned Billy Joel, Disney on Ice and The Eagles like 6 times each so I specifically asked him what acts they already had agreements with and he said he couldn't say, but I'd say those are 2 of them for sure. Then when you look at the marketing materials they send over there's another dozen acts listed (like U2, Kevin Hart, NCAA (BBall tourney I assume), Maroon 5, Fleetwood Mac, Bon Jovi, UFC, Cirque de Soleil, Journey/Def Leppard, etc.).
- He also mentioned that in addition to the arena being designed taking into account musical acts, that more of them will want to play here than at MSG because of the costs associated with performing in NYC and that the acts will be able to make more money at Belmont.
- There are suites UNDERNEATH the seats right up against the glass (behind the penalty boxes). So you can buy an entire suite and get like 8 seats (4 and 4) right up against the glass with a private staircase down into a suite where you'll have food, drink, and I assume bathrooms. I had never heard of that before.
- Also that is why you're going to see the seats up against the ice have more space than in any other arena. They view the extra/more spacious area as a perk for those spending tons more than usual to be in the first row. Personally I don't love this as you don't want to see additional "space" where passionate fans should be.
- This also makes me concerned that most all of the center/lower-bowl tickets are hi-end/premium seating so they are more expensive and corporations might gobble them up and/or maybe just wealthy fans who are more casual fans giving tickets to games they don't want to clients/friends/etc. Thus you might have less passionate attendees at the game leading to a less passionate, and raucous, crowd.
Overall what stuck out to me is that, much like all of the modern arenas these days, there are some high end seating which means high end pricing. It further made me realize what a blue-collar fanbase the Isles are and that most of us couldn't, or wouldn't, spend the kind of dollars needed to get 2, much less 4, seats in any of the VIP areas.
Therefore I think there's going to be an adding of a "higher-end" fanbase - One that's going to be more affluent. The reality is that the Coliseum wasn't a long-term viable option for a home on any level - But especially financially. A brand new shiny arena with modern amenities lets the team sell a higher-end product that no renovated Coliseum could ever do. It's all necessary for the Isles to be able to compete with the modern-day finances of the NHL, but I think some of the simplicity/innocence of the Coliseum vibe is definitely going to be lost. Don't get me wrong...When you add it all up I am very happy about the new arena, direction of the Isles, and that they are FINALLY being run like a first-class organization. Just want to make sure us insane fans are all there when we want to be continuing to give them the home-ice advantage that we have been known for for decades.
Had a zoom call with a VIP ticket agent for the Isles Tuesday (for something called the Loft Club). Was very helpful to see all the features and learn a lot more about the arena. He also sent me a follow up email, so I have some documents showing more detailed information on the whole arena as well as pricing for all the VIP sections (Loft Club, Spotlight Club, UBS Clubs & Boxes, 1905 Club).
Things I learned:
- If you buy a VIP package you will have access to the parking lots within walking distance to the arena, but if you get regular season tickets you will have to park in the lot north of the racetrack and shuttle over.
- Not sure about regular season tickets, but if you buy any VIP season tix you have to commit to 3 years minimum. The longer you commit the less your annual season increases will be. I understand why the team is doing this and it's smart from their perspective.
- If you purchase VIP ticket package you will get first access to concerts and events - Basically to buy those 2 same tickets for those other UBS Arena events.
- The concert stage will be on the opposite side of where the Isles shoot twice so if you were buying VIP tickets with the thought of having access to them for concerts you may want to be slightly to the side of where the Isles shoot once.
- The ticket rep must've mentioned Billy Joel, Disney on Ice and The Eagles like 6 times each so I specifically asked him what acts they already had agreements with and he said he couldn't say, but I'd say those are 2 of them for sure. Then when you look at the marketing materials they send over there's another dozen acts listed (like U2, Kevin Hart, NCAA (BBall tourney I assume), Maroon 5, Fleetwood Mac, Bon Jovi, UFC, Cirque de Soleil, Journey/Def Leppard, etc.).
- He also mentioned that in addition to the arena being designed taking into account musical acts, that more of them will want to play here than at MSG because of the costs associated with performing in NYC and that the acts will be able to make more money at Belmont.
- There are suites UNDERNEATH the seats right up against the glass (behind the penalty boxes). So you can buy an entire suite and get like 8 seats (4 and 4) right up against the glass with a private staircase down into a suite where you'll have food, drink, and I assume bathrooms. I had never heard of that before.
- Also that is why you're going to see the seats up against the ice have more space than in any other arena. They view the extra/more spacious area as a perk for those spending tons more than usual to be in the first row. Personally I don't love this as you don't want to see additional "space" where passionate fans should be.
- This also makes me concerned that most all of the center/lower-bowl tickets are hi-end/premium seating so they are more expensive and corporations might gobble them up and/or maybe just wealthy fans who are more casual fans giving tickets to games they don't want to clients/friends/etc. Thus you might have less passionate attendees at the game leading to a less passionate, and raucous, crowd.
Overall what stuck out to me is that, much like all of the modern arenas these days, there are some high end seating which means high end pricing. It further made me realize what a blue-collar fanbase the Isles are and that most of us couldn't, or wouldn't, spend the kind of dollars needed to get 2, much less 4, seats in any of the VIP areas.
Therefore I think there's going to be an adding of a "higher-end" fanbase - One that's going to be more affluent. The reality is that the Coliseum wasn't a long-term viable option for a home on any level - But especially financially. A brand new shiny arena with modern amenities lets the team sell a higher-end product that no renovated Coliseum could ever do. It's all necessary for the Isles to be able to compete with the modern-day finances of the NHL, but I think some of the simplicity/innocence of the Coliseum vibe is definitely going to be lost. Don't get me wrong...When you add it all up I am very happy about the new arena, direction of the Isles, and that they are FINALLY being run like a first-class organization. Just want to make sure us insane fans are all there when we want to be continuing to give them the home-ice advantage that we have been known for for decades.
I don't like seats right up against the glass where the fans can get in the way when the puck is on the wall, so I'm not too upset if that's what you're describing as space. Interesting notes, appreciate the info!
Had a zoom call with a VIP ticket agent for the Isles Tuesday (for something called the Loft Club). Was very helpful to see all the features and learn a lot more about the arena. He also sent me a follow up email, so I have some documents showing more detailed information on the whole arena as well as pricing for all the VIP sections (Loft Club, Spotlight Club, UBS Clubs & Boxes, 1905 Club).
Things I learned:
.
- If you buy a VIP package you will have access to the parking lots within walking distance to the arena, but if you get regular season tickets you will have to park in the lot north of the racetrack and shuttle over.
- Not sure about regular season tickets, but if you buy any VIP season tix you have to commit to 3 years minimum. The longer you commit the less your annual season increases will be. I understand why the team is doing this and it's smart from their perspective.
- If you purchase VIP ticket package you will get first access to concerts and events - Basically to buy those 2 same tickets for those other UBS Arena events.
- The concert stage will be on the opposite side of where the Isles shoot twice so if you were buying VIP tickets with the thought of having access to them for concerts you may want to be slightly to the side of where the Isles shoot once.
- The ticket rep must've mentioned Billy Joel, Disney on Ice and The Eagles like 6 times each so I specifically asked him what acts they already had agreements with and he said he couldn't say, but I'd say those are 2 of them for sure. Then when you look at the marketing materials they send over there's another dozen acts listed (like U2, Kevin Hart, NCAA (BBall tourney I assume), Maroon 5, Fleetwood Mac, Bon Jovi, UFC, Cirque de Soleil, Journey/Def Leppard, etc.).
Thanks Perif this was a great summary. I got my seats early on, Section 116 row 7 seats 1 & 2. When I bought them I was only guaranteed pre-sales for other events. A few weeks ago they sent an email that I will be guaranteed my seats for concerts/events if I want them. I haven't spoken to my rep since then and was meaning to ask about where the stage will be at Now seeing that it will be at my end of the ice, you made my day! Now it is even less likely my wife leaves me for my 7 year impulse buy for these seats (some guys buy a car for their mid life crisis, I drive a Honda Accord , spent it all on Isles seats).
Correct me if I am wrong but where is there a lot north of the racetrack? Directly north of the arena is the final turn of the racetrack and then the railroad tracks. I imagine the ticket rep meant the giant lot south of hempstead turnpike that the general public uses for the racetrack now.
Also the train station location is incredibly intriguing to me. I wonder if the LIRR will run any special trains to the "old" station thats literally next to the arena for big events. Unless they build a new interlocking I believe only hempstead trains can stop at the Elmont station heading eastbound while Huntington and Ronkonkoma trains can only access the station heading westbound with the current position of switches.
I think it's this? I parked there for the Stakes in 2011, so much could have changed.
Interesting, makes for a long cold walk in the winter haha.
How about a much larger version of the hot dog cannon with a big net at the "destination"?You mean a cold wait for the shuttle bus lol
How about a much larger version of the hot dog cannon with a big net at the "destination"?
Interesting, makes for a long cold walk in the winter haha.