NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Angers New York Governor Kathy Hochul With Sleight of Hand
Photo credit: Forbes
Gary Bettman is making enemies in all the wrong places lately. This time it's New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who roasted him in a letter after he passed on holding an NHL event in the Islanders' home of UBS Arena, and will instead pursue an Olympic Event in 2026.
The New York Islanders will not host an NHL All-Star Game during the 2026 season, thanks to Gary Bettman.
Instead, Bettman has decided to anger Gov. Kathy Hochul and will utilize another venue for another event at Belmont Park.
Needless to say, he drew the ire of Hochul, who didn't spare him a tongue-lashing.
«While we understand the significance of the Winter Olympics, the conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed through early coordination,» Hochul's letter read. «This decision overlooks the efforts by New York State and sends the wrong message to every public entity that has supported the NHL.»
Citing the loss of economic activity being her primary motivator for sending the letter, it is a stark reminder that New York is an epicenter of hockey history.
The New York Rangers were one of the first NHL teams, and built the foundation that the Islanders took advantage of to build a brand off of.
UBS Arena opened in 2021 and is the new home of the New York Islanders.
In light of the cost of the Arena, undoubtedly Hochul wants to make sure they can capitalize on its draw so the city can benefit from taxes collected through the buying of concessions, and merchandise inside the arena.
She's implored him to bring a similar event in 2027 back to New York.
She went on to request that the NHL «bring a hockey event with equal or greater economic activity and cultural value to the region» in 2027.
Something Bettman already said he had in mind. Which more or less seems like a way of easing tempers that have been flaring as a result of the hasty move from the games taking place in UBS Arena to Belmont Park.
Bettman had already said last week during a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors that the league will do «something that's more focused on a major hockey event» in 2027 at UBS Arena.
If there's one thing Gary loves, it's making people angry!
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
MAI 6 | 1156 ANSWERS NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Angers New York Governor Kathy Hochul With Sleight of Hand Do you think NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is doing fans in New York a disservice with this choice to move the hockey event in 2026 from UBS Arena to Belmont Park? | ||
| Yes | 628 | 54.3 % |
| No | 528 | 45.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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