UBS Arena to Offer “New York” Flavors

04.11.2021, 18:07

UBS Arena to Offer “New York” Flavors

UBS Arena, the metropolitan New York area’s most anticipated live entertainment venue and future home of the New York Islanders Hockey Club, will feature distinctive menu choices when it opens later this month.

 

Global hospitality company Delaware North has partnered with an array of New York Metro area food providers and brands to create a unique culinary program for fans and visitors to the venue to experience across concession areas, VIP suites and premium clubs that merge boutique hospitality with a live entertainment setting.

 

Opening on November 20, UBS Arena is located in Elmont on a site adjacent to the Belmont Park race track, and was designed for multi-purpose use with an emphasis on hosting music events and hockey. Constructed for a reported US $1.5 billion, New York’s newest premier entertainment and sports venue and home of the New York Islanders has been developed in partnership with Oak View Group, the New York Islanders, and Jeff Wilpon. The state-of-the art arena will host more than 150 major events annually while delivering an unmatched live entertainment experience including clear sightlines and premier acoustics. In an effort to build a greener future, UBS Arena intends on being carbon neutral for operations before 2024, which will make it the first arena to do so on the eastern United States seaboard.

 

Fans and visitors can expect chef-driven menus and locally inspired signature dishes made with ingredients 75 per cent sourced from within a 300 mile radius according to seasonality – with Delaware North also partnering with local and regional vendors to source products that support New York state’s “Taste NY” initiative.

 

Local, branded highlights include:

• The Harrison, the popular Floral Park eatery known for its scratch made dishes and cocktails, will have a major presence at an in arena food hub, and its famous cheeseburgers and French fries will be featured at three outlets in the general concessions area.
• Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque, a fast growing, New York born barbeque concept, will offer its slow smoked brisket, burnt ends and pulled pork sandwich varieties as part of the general concessions lineup.
• Milk Bar, the famous dessert brand and company founded in Manhattan, will have a featured presence at UBS Arena with three concessions outlets offering its popular Cereal Milk™ soft serve, among other signature treats.
• Blue Line Deli & Bagels, whose flagship deli is located in Huntington, N.Y., will have its iconic blue and orange bagels available at several of the market locations throughout the arena in addition to classic deli style sandwiches and specialty bagel sandwiches.
• The Sausage King of New York will have its Italian sausage and other premium meat products available throughout concessions as well as in premium suites.

 

The transformed concessions service for UBS Arena will feature 12 market style outlets that offer a mix of hot, fresh prepared food selections complemented by a variety of ready-to-go meals and self-serve snack and beverage options, with market stalls using a  streamlined checkout process, with mobile ordering and other cashless payment technology.

 

Market and concession stands will offer a wide variety of food options, including street tacos, seafood, modern Chinese, Halal and sausages, a carving station and deli, as well as classics such as pizzas, cheesesteaks, chicken tenders, ice cream, burgers and pretzels.

 

Portable stands will also offer great variety with both food (popcorn, sushi, BBQ and nachos) and beverages (Vide canned cocktails, Ilegal Mezcal craft cocktails, Claffey Pop spiked seltzers and grab-and-go locations offering beer and other canned beverages).

 

Specialty items throughout the arena will include gluten-free, vegetarian, and kosher items.

 

A full accompaniment of premium hospitality services will also be offered by Delaware North at UBS Arena in 56 suites, 22 UBS Club lofts and five major club areas.

 

Leading the culinary direction for Delaware North is Executive Chef, Ted Donnelly – a Tri-State Region native with almost 15 years of experience in high profile settings, including four years with Delaware North at MetLife Stadium and major events such as Super Bowl XLVIII, the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, the 2016 NHL All Star Game and 2015 MLB All Star Game. Prior to rejoining Delaware North to lead culinary operations at UBS Arena, he spent five years as senior executive chef for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

 

Donnelly comments: “The New York Metro area is known for its food and that will be on full display at UBS Arena.

“Fans have a much more elevated expectation of their food and drinks when attending events these days, so our goal is to provide a culinary experience that matches the world-class sports and entertainment events they’re coming to see.”

 

Hank Abate, President of Arena Operations at UBS Arena, adds: “The focus on bringing a true local New York flavor throughout the culinary offerings will provide our guests with a unique experience they can only find at UBS Arena.

 

“In working with our colleagues at Delaware North to bring this to life, we’re excited for fans to taste all these creations starting this month.”

 

Beyond its local partnerships, Delaware North is leveraging its culinary talent and operational experience in New York through its Patina Restaurant Group, which operates several high-end restaurants in the region, including Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse (Midtown Manhattan), Lincoln Ristorante (Lincoln Center), STATE Grill and Bar (Empire State Building), and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.