The Beat

North Country Welcomes Elite Collegiate Winter Sports Athletes for the first time since 1972

Public Invited to Take Part in Activities Celebrating One-Year from Winter Edition of World University Games

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the official kick-off to the One-Year Out Celebration for the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games. The winter edition of the 11-day cultural exchange and sporting event returns to the United States and Lake Placid January 12-22, 2023, after a 50-year absence.

Virtual race celebrates brave women of the Finger Lakes

Auburn, N.Y. – Registration is now open for the Brave Women FLX Winter 100K virtual challenge, taking place remotely from Jan. 1 – Mar. 31, 2022. Participants from all over the country are challenged to walk, hike, run, snowshoe, snowboard, ski, skate, skip, shimmy, shuffle, stroll – or all of the above – as they tally up 100 kilometers while celebrating brave women past and present in the Finger Lakes. Race information and registration is available at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/FingerLakes/WhereBraveWomenWinter…

Lake Placid, NY -- The results of the IRONMAN Task Force Committee community survey are in and the numbers show that there is generally support for the IRONMAN race, but there are opportunities for improvement to make the event more favorable for locals and regional residents.

The survey was released by the IRONMAN Task Force and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) and ran from October 20 to November 1. With the goal of understanding the impact of the IRONMAN race on the community, respondents were asked about specific positive impacts, as well as challenges, associated with hosting the IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon. 1,598 complete responses were used in data analysis, with respondents segmented by zip code to best understand how the race is viewed based on location.

New 19,000-Seat UBS Arena Accomplishes Major Milestone of Overall $1.3 Billion Belmont Park Redevelopment Project

New LIRR Elmont-UBS Arena Station Completed

otal Project Expected to Create 10,000 Jobs, Generate $2.7 Billion in Economic Activity

Photos of the New Arena Available Here

Aerial Video of New Arena Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of UBS Arena, which will bring the New York Islanders back home to Long Island. The new arena marks a major milestone in the overall $1.3 billion Belmont Park Redevelopment Project, which is transforming 43 acres of underutilized parking lots into a premier sports and hospitality destination. In addition to being the new home for the New York Islanders hockey team, the UBS Arena will feature concerts, live entertainment and other events throughout the year.

Mascot Designed by Kristina Ingerowski, Farmington Native and Fashion Institute of Technology Sophomore 

Nearly 150 Submissions Received from Entrants Across 35 Counties 

 Mascot Photos Available Here 

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Adirondack Mac will serve as the official mascot for the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games. The moose mascot was designed by Kristina Ingerowski, a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology and a native of Farmington, Ontario County. Adirondack Mac will be a highly visible symbol of the Games, which attract a global audience. Mac will appear in various forms including a live, costumed character; as merchandise including toys, stuffed animals, apparel and other souvenirs; and in promotional materials. The Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games are scheduled for January 12-22, 2023. …

Schenectady, N.Y. (August 3, 2021) – The US Tennis Association’s Eastern Section is returning to Schenectady’s Central park with their Adult League Sectional Championships over 3 weekends in August and 2 weekends in September.

Beginning this weekend, Schenectady will welcome hundreds of amateur tennis players from throughout New York State, Northern & Central New Jersey and Southern Connecticut. Men & women players will compete in age brackets of 18 & over, 40 & over, 55 & over and 65 & over. This marks a return to the area after the 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic. This year’s event will operate at 50% capacity, due to the ongoing concerns of the pandemic, with the balance of the tournament being held at a facility downstate. 

Bath, NY — On Sunday, August 8th, Mossy Bank Park will host the 2^nd annual The Hills on Fire Enduro XC which is a new kind of mountain bike race. The course is located in a young Hemlock stand with easy access for spectators and family and friends to watch. The course will be about 7-8 miles in length with a good mix of single and double track. There will be a 6 hour window to complete 4 laps of the course (solo riders will need to complete all four laps, while riders for two-person teams will need to do two laps each). The event is a fundraiser for the park. A Chicken BBQ will also be available as an additional fundraiser for the park. Award-winning Steuben Brewing Company will be on hand for craft beer tasting as well.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will offer a variety of tours, programming, and special events this summer, as well as eight daily showings of the Museum’s new signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame. Here are some of the highlights at the Museum this summer:  

Tom Durkin Museum Tours
Take a guided tour of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame with legendary track announcer Tom Durkin from July 15 through Sept. 6. Tours are Wednesday through Sunday and begin at 11 a.m. and are limited to 12 people. There are no tours on Mondays or Tuesdays. Reservations are required, and payment is required at the time of booking. The cost is $35 for the general public and $30 for Museum members. …

“On the Water: Angling Adventures” Showcases Erie Canal & World-Class NY Fishing Opportunities Enhanced by the Reimagine the Canals Initiative

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced the Reimagine the Canals initiative was recently featured on the NBC Sports program “On the Water: Angling Adventures.” The television show highlighted the successful launch of a pilot program that strategically used water from the Erie Canal to enhance already renowned fishing opportunities in Western New York during the fall of 2020. The full episode can be found here.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (KY), seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, and 13-time champion steeplechase trainer Jack Fisher comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2021 Hall of Fame class. American Pharoah and Pletcher were elected in the contemporary category in their first year of eligibility and Fisher was chosen by the Museum’s Steeplechase Review Committee, which meets once every four years.

The class of 2021 will be enshrined along with the 2020 inductees — trainer Mark Casse, jockey Darrel McHargue, horses Tom Bowling and Wise Dan, and Pillars of the Turf Alice Headley Chandler, J. Keene Daingerfield, Jr., and George D. Widener, Jr. — on Friday, Aug. 6, at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs at 10:30 a.m.