Islanders fans take advantage of free Belmont Park admission on game days
Port Jefferson's Erika Gronenthal and her son Finn, 12, stopped by Belmont Park for free before heading to Thursday night's Islanders-Kings game at UBS Arena. Credit: Newsday/Ben Dickson
Port Jefferson’s Erika Gronenthal and her 12-year-old son Finn are fans of horses and the Islanders.
In Elmont this hockey season, they can get the best of both worlds. All in the span of a few hours.
The new Belmont Park — which reopened Sept. 18 after a three-year, $555 million redevelopment, with New York State committing $455 million and the New York Racing Association an additional $100 million — has become a popular pregame spot ahead of Islanders home games at UBS Arena.
Ahead of the Islanders’ game against the Kings on Thursday night, several Islanders fans took in the eight-race afternoon program at Belmont Park before heading over to UBS Arena. On Islanders home game days that overlap with Belmont Park race days, fans holding Islanders tickets can claim free general admission to the racetrack. The Gronenthals did exactly that.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Erika said, “to give us an opportunity to see what this is all about and see the new stadium.”
Belmont Park general admission tickets this fall cost $7 when purchased in advance and $10 at the gate.
To claim the deal, fans have to read the Islanders’ game-day email that has general information about the game, such as when doors open. On the email, there is a link to click on and a promo code to enter.
“It’s a great deal,” Erika said. “Hopefully it will get more people interested in either hockey or horses.”
Ahead of the Islanders-Lightning game on Oct. 10, 205 Islanders ticket-holders redeemed free admission to Belmont.
Many horse racing fans decked in Islanders gear at the track Thursday did not know about the deal.
Staten Island’s John Guiffre, an Islanders fan since 1978, spent $20 total on two Belmont Park tickets. Thursday marked his first time at the new Belmont Park and his first Islanders game of the season. He previously didn’t know about the deal and said it would encourage him to do the racing-hockey doubleheader again.
Islanders season-ticket holders Michelle Aileen, left, and Colleen Smith, both from Brooklyn, take in a race at Belmont Park for free before heading to Thursday night's Islanders-Kings game at UBS Arena. Credit: Newsday/Ben Dickson
“Well, if I knew that, yeah, why not?” he said. “I don’t mind betting the horses. I like betting the horses, period. But I figured let’s make a day of it, and we’ll come here and I got the tickets for the game tonight.”
Philadelphia’s Chris Giangrasso, a big Islanders fan who made the trip with his wife, Kate, did not know about the deal either. They met up with friends from Connecticut who also are big hockey and racing fans.
“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “In Philly, we kind of have something similar because the ballparks are close together and they have some entertainment area in between. You can do similar things in other cities, so it’s nice that they’re doing it here. But combining going to the track and then going to a hockey game I think makes this unique, and they did a great job from what I’ve seen so far.”
Mark Ponemon, a Queens native who now lives in New Jersey, attended Thursday’s races with his two brothers. He said “it’s a great day” to be able to do both and added that the free Belmont Park admission to go with a paid Islanders ticket would entice him to come back and “spend the day.”
General admission parking for Belmont Park, which is in the Silver lot and costs $8.38 when purchased in advance and $10 on the same day, is not included in the deal.
The Ponemons said they were told they would receive a $150 fine if they parked in the Silver lot through the Islanders game. Instead, they parked on the street in a nearby neighborhood.
Giangrasso said he was able to park in the Emerald lot for the entire day, adding that “not many people know that secret.”
For season-ticket holders Michelle Aileen and Colleen Smith of Brooklyn, Thursday’s trip to Belmont Park was their third or fourth of the season before an Islanders game.
“This is what we plan on doing now before every game,” Aileen said. “We’re learning the culture. Everyone’s been very nice and friendly and welcoming.”
Said Smith: “It’s something to do before the game. They’ve been giving us free tickets on game days, so we’re like, well, we’re going to be here early anyway, probably. So why not stop in and see?”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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