UBS Arena Pregame Guide
New York Islanders · Elmont, NY
UBS Arena's parking is organised by Cross Island Parkway exit, and getting the exit wrong means a long way round: Emerald Parking is Exit 26D, the Belmont Park Garage is Exit 26A, and Diamond, Ruby and Silver Parking are Exit 26B onto Hempstead Turnpike East. The Belmont Park Garage sits across Hempstead Turnpike and is reached by a walkway; Emerald is a short walk or a free shuttle ride. ADA parking is available in all lots. The rule that catches people leaving is that guests must exit the campus by the same route they entered it.
Tips & Fan Reports
The LIRR stops at Belmont Park on the arena campus, which sidesteps the exit question entirely.
You must leave by the route you arrived on, so the exit you pick shapes the journey home too.
Emerald runs a free shuttle if the walk is too far.
Check which Cross Island Parkway exit your parking tier uses before you set off — 26A, 26B and 26D lead to different lots and you cannot switch on arrival.
Where to Go Before the Game
Emerald Parking, Cross Island Parkway Exit 26D
A short walk from the arena, or a free shuttle ride if you would rather not. Entered from Exit 26D specifically.
Known for Exit 26D · Free shuttle · Short walk
Belmont Park Garage, Exit 26A
Across Hempstead Turnpike from the arena and reached by a dedicated walkway, entered from Cross Island Parkway Exit 26A.
Known for Exit 26A · Across Hempstead Turnpike · Walkway access
Diamond, Ruby and Silver Parking, Exit 26B
The closest tier of parking, entered from Exit 26B onto Hempstead Turnpike East.
Known for Exit 26B · Hempstead Turnpike East · Premium tiers
Belmont Park LIRR station
The Long Island Rail Road station on the arena campus, which is the way in for anyone not driving to a numbered exit.
Known for On campus · LIRR · No parking needed
Rules to Know
What UBS Arena allows, and what it does not.
- Parking is organised by Cross Island Parkway exit: Emerald Parking from Exit 26D, the Belmont Park Garage from Exit 26A, and Diamond, Ruby and Silver Parking from Exit 26B onto Hempstead Turnpike East.
- The Belmont Park Garage is across Hempstead Turnpike and is accessible via walkway.
- Emerald Parking is a short walk or a free shuttle ride from the arena.
- ADA parking is available for all lots.
- When leaving an event, guests must use the same route they used to enter the campus.
- The Belmont Park LIRR station serves the arena campus.
- The arena publishes no tailgating policy.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Bags no larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches are permitted after X-ray or visual screening; backpacks of every size are prohibited.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages are prohibited, with exceptions for medical requirements or other special needs.
- A card or a phone wallet
UBS Arena is cashless for food, parking, merchandise, and other sales.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Only digital Islanders tickets displayed on a smartphone are accepted at UBS Arena.
- A coat for the walk in
January lows average 27°F between the lot and the door at UBS Arena.
- A poncho for the walk in, not an umbrella
Umbrellas are on UBS Arena's prohibited list, and March averages 4.4 inches of rain.
New York Islanders Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official New York Islanders gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
UBS Arena official site: Know Before You Go, and the published parking and campus maps
- Venue policies
Current UBS Arena bag, accessibility, family services, FAQ, code of conduct, dining, and know-before-you-go pages plus New York Islanders game-day and parking guides reviewed for Islanders policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals