NEW ROCHELLE, NY and BELMONT PARK, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team takes on the University of Delaware on Tuesday, December 21 at UBS Arena at Belmont Park, located on the border of Queens and Nassau County. The brand new, state of the art venue hosts the Gaels and Blue Hens in its first month of operation. Tickets are on sale Friday, October 8 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com for the game's 7:30 p.m. tip off.
The matchup featuring second-year Hall of Fame head coach
Rick Pitino and the Gaels at the new home of the NHL's New York Islanders will be the final preparation for Iona's January and February conference slate as the program vies for its sixth straight NCAA Tournament this season. Iona features a talented mix of returners and newcomers. Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year
Nelly Junior Joseph, seniors
Berrick JeanLouis and
Dylan van Eyck and Brooklyn native and Christ the King alum
Ryan Myers return to defend their MAAC crown. Key newcomers for the Maroon & Gold include a trio of high-major transfers in
Elijah Joiner (Tulsa),
Tyson Jolly (SMU) and
Quinn Slazinski (Louisville).
UBS Arena at Belmont Park is a $1.1 billion multi-purpose venue that is finishing construction adjacent to the Belmont Park racetrack.The world-class entertainment venue, with its timeless and classic design, will bridge its iconic past with today's advanced technology and amenities. In addition to being the new home to the famed New York Islanders Hockey Club, the state of the art arena, opening in the fall, will deliver an unmatched live entertainment experience with clear sightlines and premier acoustics.
Located at 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, UBS Arena is accessible via car and ride share at exits 26A, 26B, and 26D off of the Cross Island Parkway. For guests using the Long Island Railroad, UBS Arena will be accessible to East and Westbound travelers at the Queens Village LIRR station, Eastbound travelers at the brand-new Elmont Station (accessible Westbound in 2022), and via the Belmont Spur station, operating from Jamaica on event-days only. In addition to the Long Island Railroad, UBS Arena is also accessible via MTA Bus Routes Q2 and Q110 and the Nassau County Inter-Express N6 bus service.
ABOUT IONA ATHLETICS
Founded in 1940, Iona College is a Master's granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre campus is just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. Iona Athletics is an NCAA Division I program with more than 350 student-athletes competing in 21 varsity sports and competing primarily in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Iona Athletics is committed as a department to its core values —building champions in academics, athletics, in the community and in life; integrity; collective responsibility; commitment to excellence; and fighting the good fight. Since the 2019-20 academic year, the Gaels have won eight conference championships in men's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf and men's soccer. The Maroon & Gold landed a record 253 student-athletes on the MAAC Academic Honor Roll this past year, which recognizes those with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher.
ABOUT UBS ARENA
UBS Arena is New York's newest premier entertainment and sports venue and future home of the New York Islanders. Located at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, the state of the art facility will open for the 2021-22 National Hockey League season and host more than 150 major events annually. The arena and surrounding development are expected to create 10,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs, generating approximately $25 billion in economic activity over the term of the lease.
Developed in partnership with Oak View Group, the New York Islanders, and Jeff Wilpon, UBS Arena is poised to be one of the area's – and the nation's – most prestigious and appealing venues for musical acts, events and performers of all genres, and will create a unique entertainment experience for artists and audiences alike. The arena is being constructed with a fan-first approach that leverages sophisticated engineering acoustics to amplify the audio experience, high-resolution LED displays and will include the largest scoreboard in New York.
UBS Arena will offer the highest-end amenities and customer service, through VIP suites and clubs that merge boutique hospitality with live entertainment. Clubs and suites will have a timeless design inspired by classic, well known New York establishments and will offer premier views of the bowl. Complementing UBS Arena, the surrounding campus will consist of 340,000 square feet of luxury retail and will include a 4 star boutique hotel.
UBS Arena is being built to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for New Construction. In an effort to build a greener future and minimize environmental impact, UBS Arena intends on being carbon neutral for operations before 2024, which will make it the first arena to do so on the eastern seaboard.
CONTACT:
Brian Beyrer
Iona College Athletics
bbeyrer@iona.edu
Kerry Graue
Scoop Marketing for UBS Arena
kgraue@solters.com
