From the day that “The Park” at UBS Arena opened up during the winter, it has become a popular space for Islanders fans to gather before games. It’s also becoming a destination for the fans when the Islanders are not playing a home game at UBS Arena. A month ago, the Islanders hosted a watch party at “The Park” for fans to watch the Stadium Series game against the Rangers on the big screens.
On Sunday, they did it again with 700 fans on hand to watch the Islanders/Rangers game from Madison Square Garden. From an Islanders perspective, the game wasn’t great as they lost to the Rangers 5-2, but the weather was fantastic and the event, score aside, was a huge success.
“It’s just a fun event to watch,” said Islanders legend and MSG Networks analyst Butch Goring who was enjoying a day off from his job with the game being televised nationally by TNT.
“I haven’t watched one on a big screen. I’m more interested in just seeing the reaction from the fans.”
There wasn’t much to cheer about after Bo Horvat’s second goal of the day tied the game at 2-2 in the second period, but the fans did enjoy plenty of activations at “The Park” including t-shirt tosses, skating on the synthetic pond hockey rink and enjoying the great weather on Long Island Sunday.
Goring is a huge fan of what the Islanders did with the space outside UBS Arena.
“I think it’s great,” said Goring who did a meet and greet with the fans taking photos and signing autographs. “Whoever thought about it is a genius. It gives the fans a little more bang for their buck.”
While it was, other than the game itself, a wonderful day for the fans to get together, Goring admits that the Islanders need to show a sense of urgency as they battle for a playoff spot.
Entering play on Monday, the Islanders find themselves one point behind the Red Wings for the second Eastern Conference wild card spot with 15 games to go in the regular season.
“There’s no question that they have to pick up their game,” said Goring. “They can’t afford to wait for other teams to help them out. Teams at this time of the year…you just never know who is going to win and who is going to lose and you can’t count on the opposition to help you out. You gotta take care of business yourself.”
Wearing his “GORING 91” blue Islanders jersey, the four-time Stanley Cup champion signed autographs and took pictures with Islanders fans. Just a week after the anniversary of his trade to the Islanders at the deadline in 1980, Goring has fond memories of the day that he came to Long Island as the “missing piece” to the Islanders Stanley Cup puzzle.
After Goring was acquired, the Islanders went on to the first of four straight Stanley Cups.
“I’m usually reminded more than I have to think about it when it happens,” said Goring, whose number 91 was retired by the Islanders in 2020.
“Having my jersey and my number up in the rafters is something I never thought about and never dreamed it might happen,” said Goring. “(The trade) changed things dramatically for me. Would I have the job I have now if I didn’t have the success and would I have the notoriety with the fans if we didn’t have the success? It changed dramatically for me…all for the good.”
Goring’s popularity with Islanders Country spans multiple generations.
For fans who followed the team during the dynasty years, Goring is beloved and treated with royalty. But Goring has also become loved by younger fans who know “Butchie” as an Islanders announcer. He is always willing to stop and sign autographs and take photos with fans, even when he’s working.
To that point, the line to meet Goring on Sunday was long and included Islanders fans of all ages.
“As a hockey player, if you have a pretty good career you generate a pretty good following and a lot of popularity but I could never have imagined what’s gone on here since becoming an analyst,” said Goring. “People often ask me if I ever get tired of it. There’s no way in the world I’m going to say no to anybody. I do a lot of selfies and a lot of autographs in-between periods which is fine. It’s been great and I’ve been very thankful for the career I’ve had. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
As if Islanders fans needed another reason to love Goring, the 1981 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has been involved in a bit of a Twitter/X “war” with TNT studio analyst (and noted Islanders hater) Paul Bissonnette. It’s become somewhat of a rallying cry for Islanders fans on social media who have joined in with Goring to ruffle Bissonnette’s feathers.
“I look at it as it’s good PR for hockey,” said Goring. “He’s a former player, as I am, and I’m having fun. I don’t know what he’s doing but I’m having fun and the fans are having fun with it. That, to me, is more important than anything else because I get more people who come up to me and say keep giving it to him.”
“The Park” at UBS Arena has been such a huge success that it was certainly something the NHL took notice of leading to the awarding of the 2026 All-Star Game at UBS Arena. The Islanders have shown that they can put together fan activations that are equal or even better than any other team in the NHL.
The crowd on Sunday was phenomenal so just think about how big a watch party could be for an Islanders road playoff game…should they get in.
Butch Goring is keeping his fingers crossed when it comes to the Islanders postseason chances.
“I said from day one that it was going to be close and I haven’t changed my predictions.”
The Carolina Hurricanes are up next for the Islanders Tuesday at UBS Arena. We know the fans will have a good time before the game at “The Park” but the night would be even better if they meet Butch Goring during the game and the Islanders win.
