Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly criticized the NHL for canceling the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena, emphasizing that the decision undermines significant public-private investments made by the state, including over $100 million for infrastructure improvements. In her letter to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, she expressed concern over the anticipated economic impact and urged for a commitment to host a comparable event in 2027. Hochul highlighted New York's strong support for hockey, indicating that better communication could have avoided the scheduling conflict that led to the cancellation.
Canceling the 2026 All-Star Weekend, she said, erases millions of dollars in anticipated revenue for the area and sends the wrong message to public entities that have supported the NHL.
This investment was made in good faith, with an understanding that it would bolster the NHL's presence on Long Island and generate long-term economic benefits.
New York has always been and will continue to be a proud hockey state. Mutual respect is essential in any partnership, and we expect the NHL to honor its commitments.
While acknowledging the importance of the Winter Olympics, Hochul argued the scheduling conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed with better communication.
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