The Islanders and Belmont Park are finally entering the home stretch.
The past several weeks have brought major changes to Nassau County, where Belmont Park’s reopening is helping usher in a new era for the Islanders’ home next door at UBS Arena. Ideas for the connected properties are already taking shape as part of a true entertainment complex — including the possibility of staging an outdoor hockey game on the racetrack’s expansive infield.
“The NHL has talked about it as well,” Islanders director of business operations Kelly Cheeseman told The Post.
“I think we’d love to see that.”
The newly opened track will be fully operational months before June’s Belmont Stakes, when it can accommodate up to 50,000 spectators. It is already attracting hockey fans, offering a dramatic departure from Belmont’s former bulky concrete grandstand.
Several Islanders supporters in team jerseys paid $10 for general admission to Saturday afternoon’s races before walking a short distance to UBS Arena for the club’s dominant 6-0 home-opening victory over the Devils that night.
With its broad, open grounds, the redesigned park also creates an inviting setting for racegoers who may be attending a later event at the arena, which opened in 2021.
“It’s really a campus now,” NYRA CEO David O’Rourke told The Post before the opening.
O’Rourke believes the redesigned paddock will be one of the track’s biggest attractions for both first-time visitors and longtime racing fans, offering closer, face-to-face encounters with the horses.
“I think [the track] has something for everyone at this point.”
Cheeseman also envisions the acres of infield space and surrounding grandstands becoming venues for concerts, food festivals and wine events — possibilities that would give the complex another feature unique to the area once the infield is open to fans.
O’Rourke said the paddock, now twice the size of Belmont’s former version, could also function “as a mini amphitheater.”
“If you had a more quaint type of performance, you could do it right in the paddock.”
Because of the track’s expanded footprint, the Islanders moved several of their free, popular outdoor game-day activities to a tighter area near UBS Arena’s Amex entrance. The relocated attractions include shooting pucks at full-size nets with sticks used by former players, cornhole, fire pits, bounce castles and a stage.
Beyond the reduced space, the main change is that the area is no longer BYOB-friendly. A $5 beer garden has been added instead.
UBS Arena also has another new green space, with the venue set to host the NHL All-Star Game this February.
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A golf simulator was recently added to the arena’s suite level, giving visitors virtual access to celebrated local courses including Bethpage and Shinnecock.
“We’re trying to really represent the culture of Long Island – golf is obviously one of those,” Cheeseman added.
The venue has also received several cosmetic upgrades, including synchronized light shows, smoke cannons and 90 additional seats.
Cheeseman said the focus this year is squarely on “fun and creativity,” particularly as the Islanders look to attract younger fans energized by an exciting group of young players already making an impact on the ice.
“Our young players like Matthew [Schaefer] and [Victor] Eklund, I think, speak well to the younger generation.”
The arena even introduced a kid-friendly frankenfood for the new season — a brie grilled cheese with gummy Nerds clusters melted that went viral quicker than a Schaefer wrist shot.
More family-friendly action is planned for blue and orange fans across Hempstead Turnpike at the connected Belmont Park Village shops, including a fall maze and other fun Halloween haunts later in October.
The luxury retail district has also been coming into its own since August, with a major leap in eight new openings like G-Star, Kiton and Monica Vinader.
Another 12, including Kate Middleton-worn Reiss and Boss, are slated to open by Black Friday, according to village president Valerie Leon.
“There’s a lot of curiosity and excitement,” she said, praising the expedited opening of the combined 20 storefronts.
A total 60 of Belmont’s 90 stores are game-ready this fall — with its final 30 good to go in early 2027.
Leon added that a “very exciting” upscale restaurant will also be announced in the new year.
Fans have plenty of Islanders and equestrian crossovers to look for ahead of that broader timeframe, as team-themed Dot cakes will make their way to kiosks at the open-air concourse, along with further activations around the All-Star Game.
Cheeseman anticipates the village doubling over for live music on game days.
Plenty is going on even when the Islanders are on the road, as the village will be holding SoulCycle partnership rides with Northwell Health on Oct. 17.
“It’s been a wonderful development, and we’ve definitely seen an increase in footsteps,” Leon said of the past few bustling weeks.