Longtime Islanders’ observers spotted the historical mirroring immediately.
The Flames were once again the opponent for an Islanders’ arena opening.
Saturday, the Islanders christened the $1.1 billion UBS Arena against the Calgary Flames before a sellout crowd of 17,250. On Oct. 7, 1972, the Islanders and Atlanta Flames, both new to the NHL, both played their first games in franchise history at Nassau Coliseum.
"It’s a nod to everything, including practicality," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Friday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at UBS Arena.
With the opening of UBS Arena and Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena for the expansion Kraken — both developed by Oak View Group — Bettman acknowledged on Friday that the Flames and the Arizona Coyotes are the next two NHL teams in need of a new arena.