Islanders close to selling out season tickets for UBS Arena debut year

The New York Islanders will open UBS Arena, their new home, for the 2021-22 NHL season and are on pace to do so with all season tickets accounted for before the first puck drops. 

Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the Islanders announced Thursday that they've sold 90% of their season tickets for the next campaign. The upper level and terrace are already completely sold out, and eight sections in the lower bowl are also filled. Approximately 1,000 seats were available as of Thursday morning, and the Islanders plan to start a waiting list after those are scooped up by eager fans. 

"With just a few months before puck drop in the fall, it's exciting to see the demand for season tickets continue," Islanders senior vice president of sales Mike Cosentino said. "We're well on the way towards selling out every Islanders game of UBS Arena's inaugural season."

Earlier this month, Sportico's Barry M. Bloom wrote that the Islanders are optimistic they will be permitted to fill UBS Arena to capacity by the start of next season despite concerns related to COVID-19. The Buffalo Sabres, along with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, intend to require that fans show they're vaccinated against the coronavirus to attend games later this year.