Was on STH call with Lou/Leiweke /Irving Azoff says UBS will be open on time with 100% capacity. ,
- Lou confirmed Jan 13 start date 8 games each against a tough division (mentioned Rangers, Devils and Bruins by name)
- Lou says he convinced JB to remain with the team going forward. Will see where that goes but believe he has a future in hockey after his playing days. He is everything you could have wanted in a hockey player and did it right.
- Lou mentioned Toews trade but will give Dobson opportunity one of the brightest prospects he has seen. Will eventually QB PP.
- Leiweke, after all of the "crap" the Isles fans have put up with over the years . This arena will be theirs.. "HOME"
- They have mentioned November start a few times for start of next season. Lou just said October or November
- Lou there would be no NY Islander Hockey without Malkin/Ledecky/Leiweke etc.
- Lou says no doubt this will be the best arena in hockey for fans. Modern building at highest level with the feeling of the coliseum bowl, fans on top of the ice. Maximized seats in lower bowl.
- Lous: Facility will be player draw. Arena first thing player will notice (including practice facility) before they know the culture of a team. Opposing players will view it as a positive. so arena can be a draw. Visitors room will be nice as well.
- Players hear the noise in the building , it is important to them. UBS will have the NVMC crowd feel and sound.
- Lou says until he became GM he knew nothing about the Island other than the Marriott and NVMC . Once he saw neighborhoods was very impressed and now understand why players stay after their playing days which he views as another draw
- Lou : Passion of the fans is incredible. Brought up the game Tavares came back. Said he has never seen anything like it with the noise and life of the building. Players hear the sound , it will be recreated in the new building wish we had the crowds for this past years playoffs.
- Leiweke giving kudos to Malkin, said he has never said no on construction, has even had to hold him back. Hired the best management team, kept core of team together , $1.1B privately on new arena. Only owner not getting direct revenue from his own arena now. Lou reiterated great ownership of Malkin/Ledecky
- Hockey dressing rooms will be separate from acts so cut down on wear and tear etc.
- Leiweke 80% better air circulation than coliseum with 4 big units , 1 in each corner, state of the art air filters
- May have as many as 90 concert dates in year 1, advantage over other arenas to draw better acts. They built a 4 season's suite for bands so won't use locker room, designed to make it easy/comfortable for bands and their crews. .. more P1 seats than any other arena (I don't know what P1 means but they later said more seats in lower bowl with good view of stage).
- Acts are already staring to jockey to come in. Azoff mentioned the Eagles, Bon Jovi, Lizzo, Harry Styles . something for everyone but no circuses etc.. - Live Nation designed the parts designed for acts, intent was to top the best arenas.
-Will compliment MSG , to have acts play both when in area. LOL Irving called Brooklyn a "POS" so while they will compliment MSG bad news for Barclay's...
- Built for concerts as well as hockey so sound system will be great (not like NVMC)
- Food: great variety of food and beers. Not necessarily chains/locals if they can't reproduce same quality at arena Also grab and go.
- $140M invested into campus parking lot, lights, sidewalks and surrounding area
- $100M will be paid to NY State for MTA
- Leiweke has timed the walk from train to arena: 9 Minute and 54 second walk from platform to arena. covered walkway with sound feed piped in.
- More restroom capacity per person than any arena on east coast.. lol
- Leiweke also developing Kraken arena, so keeps saying best arena on east coast. Will say both will be great but he has soft spot for Islander fans for what they have been through and their passion. Kraken get this day
