Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing back against the NHL’s decision to cancel the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena, calling on league officials to bring a major event to Long Island in 2027 to make up for the loss.
State invested heavily in UBS Arena upgrades
New York State invested more than $100 million to support the construction of a new Long Island Rail Road station servicing UBS Arena, part of a broader effort to make the venue a world-class destination for major sports and entertainment events.
Governor Hochul emphasized that this investment was made in good faith, with an understanding that it would bolster the NHL’s presence on Long Island and generate long-term economic benefits.
Canceling the 2026 All-Star Weekend, she said, erases millions of dollars in anticipated revenue for the area and sends the wrong message to public entities that have supported the NHL.
Hochul calls for new NHL event in 2027
While acknowledging the importance of the Winter Olympics, Hochul argued the scheduling conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed with better communication. She urged the league to immediately revisit its decision and commit to hosting an NHL event of equal or greater value at UBS Arena in 2027.
“New York has always been and will continue to be a proud hockey state,” Hochul wrote. “Mutual respect is essential in any partnership, and we expect the NHL to honor its commitments to the people of New York.”
New York is home to three NHL teams—the Islanders, Rangers, and Sabres—and houses the league’s headquarters, underscoring the state’s deep ties to professional hockey.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.