Islanders' new pregame hangout spot at state-of-the-art UBS Arena brings Hall of Famer 'back to my childhood'

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The New York Islanders play at the newest venue for professional sports teams in North America, yet they're already improving their 2-year-old arena.

UBS Arena opened for business in 2021 adjacent to legendary Belmont Park as the home of the Islanders after they spent most of their previous 48 seasons at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.

In their final year at their old home, it was the second-oldest NHL arena, behind only Madison Square Garden. 

The Isles had years of failed attempts to rebuild or replace the arena. Even after moving to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which it thought was for good, the team split time between Nassau and Barclays for a couple of seasons.

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Fans wait to enter the new UBS Arena for the first New York Islanders game against the Calgary Flames Nov. 20, 2021, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

So, when UBS Arena opened, the organization knew everything had to be perfect.

Widely regarded as one of the nicest venues in all sports, the organization did one better by opening The Park this month.

The Park consists of two pond hockey rinks, carnival games, food trucks, fire pits, heated igloos and other backyard games behind the arena. Fans can bring their own six-pack of beer.

For Isles legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, The Park is a full-circle experience.

"It brings me back to my childhood. It’s a winter wonderland," LaFontaine told Fox News Digital Wednesday, the day of The Park's debut. "I skated out on a lake in Michigan as a kid, then I created my own backyard rink of dreams for my kids.

Pat Lafontaine of the New York Islanders skates at the