Islanders' Brooklyn Boyars leverages IP-driven production at UBS Arena

The transition to IP-driven infrastructure at venues like UBS Arena represents a significant shift for the industry, enabling more agile and scalable live show execution compared to legacy SDI environments. By using software-centric workflows, teams can integrate real-time data and localized content faster, directly impacting in-venue fan engagement and monetization opportunities through localized sponsor activations. This operational blueprint is critical for high-stakes environments where sub-second latency and high-resolution visuals are now baseline requirements. Watch for how regional hockey networks adopt similar decentralized IP production models to reduce overhead for road game broadcasts.

The technological evolution at UBS Arena aligns with broader league-wide investments in digital infrastructure. Per the NHL, February 2024, UBS Arena was selected to host the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend, a marquee event that serves as a direct lead-in to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This selection underscores the league’s confidence in the arena’s high-capacity IP networking and state-of-the-art production capabilities. Beyond pure video production, the Islanders announced a partnership with AI platform Viam in October 2024 to optimize the fan journey through automated data insights, including concession routing and parking logistics.

Technological modernization has become a central revenue driver for the NHL, which projected record commercial growth between $7.5 billion and $8 billion for the current season, per commissioner Gary Bettman in June 2026. This growth is increasingly tied to sophisticated in-venue engagement and the rise of digital-first distribution. As professional sports venues transition into year-round entertainment destinations, unified IP-based AV infrastructure has become the industry standard for 2026, according to recent reporting by Pro AV Innovate. These systems allow for centralized monitoring and seamless integration between in-house production and remote broadcast workflows, a necessity for venues hosting high-profile international showcases.