The New York Islanders' long wait to open their new arena is finally over. The wins will have to come later.

Nearly four years after winning the bid to build a new home next to Belmont Park, the Islanders opened the doors to UBS Arena on Saturday night. The Calgary Flames were the Islanders' first home opponent this season after the team spent the first 6½ weeks of the season playing 13 road games.

"It's a beautiful building," said Lonny Lehman, a first-time season-ticket holder from East Meadow, New York, a short drive from the Coliseum. "[Looking forward to] just having a home again. ... It's been a long time coming. Our politicians failed us. Fortunately, our new owners kept us here and they're going to have a nice following."