Gov. Kathy Hochul asks NHL to commit to All-Star event at UBS Arena
Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, is joined by New York Islanders owner Jon Ledecky and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to cut the ribbon on the brand new UBS Arena at Belmont Park November 19, 2021. Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
Gov. Kathy Hochul still wants an All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena.
She sent an open letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday expressing her disappointment in the league’s decision to turn the Long Island-hosted All-Star Weekend in February 2026 into what Bettman vaguely described last week as a “kickoff going to the Olympics.”
Hochul urged the NHL to commit to bringing a major event of equal or greater value to All-Star Weekend to UBS Arena the following year.
“The cancellation of the 2026 All-Star Weekend, an event expected to bring millions in economic activity to the region, is deeply disappointing,” Hochul wrote. “While we understand the significance of the Winter Olympics, the conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed through early coordination. This decision overlooks the efforts by New York State and sends the wrong message to every public entity that has supported the NHL.
“Therefore, we request that the NHL revisits this matter immediately. Given that Long Island’s 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend has been canceled, the NHL should bring a hockey event with equal or greater economic activity and cultural value to the region in 2027.”
In a question-and-answer session with a group representing the Associated Press Sports Editors at the NHL office last Tuesday, Bettman said, “We’ll have an event at UBS before we go to the Olympics but then we’ll do something that’s more focused on a major hockey event for the following year. We have a little bit of time to finalize what we’re doing.”
Bettman did not specify whether the event in 2027 would be at UBS Arena. The NHL said on Monday it would not have a comment on Hochul’s letter.
Last week, Bettman explained that the NHL will work in two-year cycles for international events following the success of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-off in February. Bettman said NHL players would participate in the Olympics in 2026, a World Cup tournament in 2028 and then the Olympics again in 2030.
“What we do in the intervening years, we’re still thinking about,” Bettman said. “But we know we set the bar high, which should be a good thing.
“We’re in the process of finalizing the schedule and we are comfortable and confident that we will have an event that people will like as a kickoff to going to the Olympics. And then we’ll come back and do a more hockey-focused competition event the following year.”
The Associated Press reported Monday that the NHL is planning an international event at UBS Arena next February in lieu of the previously announced All-Star Weekend.
The Islanders did not have an immediate comment on Hochul’s letter but, in a statement last week said, “We look forward to working with the league on any event that will showcase our world class facility, UBS Arena.”
Hochul cited the NHL making this decision “without consultation with the State of New York,” as part of the basis of her disappointment.
“New York, home of three NHL franchises [including the Rangers and Buffalo Sabres] and the league’s headquarters, has always been and will continue to be a proud hockey state, and mutual respect is essential in any partnership,” Hochul wrote. “We are prepared to be constructive, but we also expect the NHL to honor its commitments to the people of New York.”
The NHL first announced on Feb. 18, 2024, that the $1.1 billion UBS Arena, which opened in 2021, would host the 2026 All-Star Weekend. The 2026 Winter Olympics will be conducted later that month in Italy.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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