Empire State Development Selects Hunton Andrews Kurth as Legal Counsel for Redevelopment of Belmont Park

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (formerly Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon) has been selected as outside legal counsel to Empire State Development, the chief economic development agency of New York state, in a $1 billion project to redevelop Belmont Park into a sports and entertainment destination.

The new complex, in Elmont, New York, will house the New York Islanders National Hockey League franchise, as well as other entertainment, dining, retail, hotel and commercial office spaces. The transformational plan is expected to strengthen the local economy, boost tourism, increase visitor spending and stimulate local businesses.

The project will be led by Mark B. Arnold, co-leader of the firm’s P3 practice and a legacy Andrews Kurth partner in Houston, and Carl F. Schwartz, co-chair of the firm’s global real estate practice and a legacy Hunton partner in New York. “Securing this new project provides further evidence of the strength of the firm that this merger created,” Schwartz said.

“The combined firm’s unparalleled sports stadium experience and strong New York presence made us the go-to team for this project.” Arnold added.

Most recently, Arnold represented the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on all aspects of the development of a $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat domed stadium to serve as the future home of the Las Vegas Raiders. He also has been involved in development of every major stadium located in Houston and several others around Texas. Schwartz also has extensive experience with sports and entertainment projects, most recently as part of the team that assisted the City of Atlanta with the sale of Turner Field. He also previously represented the New York Yankees in their lease negotiations with New York City for the new Yankee Stadium.