Add another keystone NHL event that has not been fully concocted to UBS Arena’s ledger.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night that the New York Islanders’ home will host “an event” of some kind in 2027 — something that could resemble an All-Star Game after the 2026 edition that was supposed to be hosted by UBS Arena was eliminated for an exhibition-like Olympic kick-off event ahead of the Winter Games in February.
“We’ve concluded that whatever we do for next season needs to take into account that the players are going to be very focused on getting to Milan and playing in the Olympics,” Bettman said. “And we want to respect that. So there will be an event the following year at UBS, and we’re still trying to figure out what we can do that will do justice to the level of interest and authenticity that we and the players created in 4 Nations. So that’s still a work in progress.”
Both events, in fact, are still a work in progress. The specifics of the Olympic kick-off event in February are unknown, and this 2027 event appears to be in the very early stages of conception.
The NHL finds itself at a mid-season crossroads, as it is now facing the brunt of the overwhelming success that came from this February’s remarkable 4 Nations Face-Off.
Replacing the 2025 All-Star Game, the four-team international tournament hosted by Montreal and Boston featured the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland, providing Stanley Cup Playoffs-like levels of intensity that captivated the sports world.
They have an opportunity to ride that wave when the World Cup of Hockey begins in 2028, meaning major international mid-season tournaments will be held every other year. But it currently leaves the NHL scrambling for answers during those odd years with UBS Arena in limbo.
“We set a pretty high bar for All-Star weekends in all sports,” Bettman added.
For more on the Islanders and UBS Arena, visit AMNY.com
