Critiquing Islanders’ Inaugural Season at UBS Arena Logo
As the New York Islanders’ season opens with a long road trip, fans are counting down the days until the team makes its debut at UBS Arena in Belmont Park. With the Nov. 21 home opener fast approaching, the Islanders began to build excitement for the return with a video posted to their social media on Oct. 11. However, in the background of the video and in several gameday posts that followed, the Islanders have posted a commemorative inaugural season at UBS Arena logo.
New home, same family. pic.twitter.com/DYAdzkqlTL
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 11, 2021
Normally, creating a special logo for a new arena is not uncommon, as teams normally do create them to celebrate a new arena, and the Islanders are no exception. However, how did the Islanders do with their logo?
The Logo
Game day in the Sunshine State.
⏰ 6PM EST
📺 MSG+ | @IslesMSGN | @MSGNetworks
💻 MSGGo
🎧 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 1050AM
📰 Game Preview: https://t.co/QiswrkbRQa— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 16, 2021
The logo, spotted in the upper righthand corner of the graphic, is fairly simplistic in nature. The logo is a circle with “New York Islanders” text on the top, and the words “Inaugural Season” underneath. In between the two bottom words is text of the 2021-22 season, marking the season of UBS Arena’s opening. Inside the circle is a depiction of one of the corners of the building and some of its notable features. These features include one of the lighthouses found at various points on the roof, the metal casing surrounding the lighthouse and some of the brick facades underneath and behind the casing.
However, a surprising feature of the logo so far is that it is only transparent. On the occasions the logo has been presented, there hasn’t been too much detail in its appearance, only a primarily color for the circle and building and transparent background. The colors of the circle and building so far include white, orange and blue, and the background used is one of the other two colors. If the logo will be completed, it will feature a gray frame of the lighthouse, gray casing and brownish color on the bricks. However, if this was the final form of the logo, it will come across as a surprise.
What’s even more surprising though is the logo hasn’t appeared at all on the Islanders’ uniforms thus far. As mentioned, the team has put the logo in gameday posts, marketing messages and other graphics, but the logo has been absent otherwise.
Therefore, the future for the logo has many possibilities. It is possible the logo may be updated and placed on the jersey as the opening of UBS Arena approaches. It is also possible the logo is finished and won’t make an appearance on the jersey this season, only on marketing ads as mentioned.
However, despite confusion on how the Islanders’ new UBS Arena logo will appear moving forward, it is a fine emblem overall. The representation of the arena is sleek and captures the esthetic of the arena very well, and it represents the beginning of a new era for the Islanders. Although there are some question marks over its final appearance and usage on uniforms, it still is an okay look as the Islanders celebrate their first season in their new home.
I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.