Kelly Cheeseman, the Islanders’ new president of business operations, said he is “a builder” in an interview with Newsday on Tuesday.
Just over six weeks into his new role, Cheeseman is tasked with building up attendance at UBS Arena and strengthening the Islanders’ fan base. The team’s diehard fans appreciated a look into Cheeseman’s philosophy and goals for the gameday experience.
“He definitely has hit the core of the fan base in terms of what he’s aiming to do here,” James Griffo, 29, of Albertson, told Newsday in a phone interview Wednesday.
Griffo cited increased fan engagement numbers that Cheeseman and the Islanders reported – including social media engagement being up over 100%, app downloads up 136% and jersey sales up 63% – as “big deals.” He also said that, while the addition of a “highly marketable player” in rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer obviously has attracted fans, so has the new management under general manager Mathieu Darche. Darche, unlike his predecessor Lou Lamoriello, encourages the players to be active on social media and with community outreach initiatives.
Cheeseman, who joined the Islanders on Nov. 1 after a nearly 25-year association with the Los Angeles Kings that included a rise to AEG Sports’ chief operating officer, said that the fan base needs to become “younger, more diverse, more female as quickly as possible to complement the core audience that is really strong with the Islanders.”
“I could definitely see how there’s more of a male presence,” said Jamie Cebula, 30, a Holbrook resident. “But I feel like as we get older, I definitely see more females and I definitely see more kids, which obviously helps the cause. More seats filled, but it’s a better vibe with them, too.”
Cebula’s employer had season tickets for the past few years, but between the prices and the “production” it takes to get to Elmont – which included long drives and the associated gas money and expensive parking – the company decided to not renew them this season after a few months of deliberating.
James Griffo, left, and Sean O’Shea at the Islanders’ draft party at UBS Arena in 2025. Credit: James Griffo
Griffo said that when he and his father went to the game against Anaheim on Dec. 11, he used three modes of transportation: driving to the Mineola train station, training to UBS Arena station and shuttle bussing from the station to the arena.
“It wasn’t bad, but I think using three modes of transportation is an overall net negative to get to the arena,” Griffo said. “I think Cheeseman will take note of that.”
Parking and traffic have been prevalent issues for fans since UBS Arena opened in 2021, and Cheeseman recognized that Tuesday when he said: “We know we’ve got to continue to work on transportation and parking and we will continue to do that as the campus evolves. We’re not naïve to that. But it’s going to take a little bit of time.”
Newsday also spoke to Islanders season-ticket holders Monday, including Rick Kern, 60, of Roslyn Heights, and Ric Stark, 57, of Oceanside. Both mentioned the traffic on the Cross Island Parkway, but neither said it was a deterrent in going to games.
Kern has also had a positive parking experience recently. His parking is discounted $10 per game as a season-ticket holder, and he can park in a dedicated section of UBS Arena’s Emerald lot.
The biggest issue that both Kern and Stark spoke about involved leaving the Emerald lot, which is right next to the train station, creating a direct conflict between pedestrians walking to the station and cars leaving the lot. Each recommended an above-ground walkway to prevent that from happening.
The Islanders have averaged 15,530 fans through 18 home games at the 17,255-capacity UBS Arena, down from last season’s 15,979, the lowest since the arena opened in 2021. But there have been six sellouts, and Cheeseman said overall ticket sales have increased by 7% and they have a “real chance” to sell out most of the games before February’s Olympic break.
With a team that sits second in the Metropolitan Division entering Wednesday, fans believe the on-ice product will dictate the progress.
“Just win,” Stark said. “If they win, everything else will take care of itself.”
With Andrew Gross
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports’ general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins’ teams.