Entrepreneur Proposing Sports, Entertainment Arena for Hamptons
An East End entrepreneur thinks it’s about time the Hamptons had an arena for professional sports, concerts and other entertainment events, and he is putting together a proposal now.
Named Raymond Los, he has set a timeline to complete a 10,000-seat venue by 2020. He first revealed his intentions with a blog post Monday.
Los, a Sag Harbor native and 1994 Pierson High School graduate who now lives in Riverhead, sees a Hamptons arena as an alternative to driving to Nassau Coliseum or taking a ferry to Mohegan Sun Arena for a show or professional sporting event.
“It’s a genius idea. It’s a creative idea,” he said. “It’s something that’s never been done before in the Hamptons.”
He would like to bring professional sports teams to the arena, and envisions the Montauk Sun Devils NBA franchise, the East Hampton Hammer Heads NHL team, Southampton Blue Crush NFL or AFL team, and Bridgehampton Stallions soccer. Nationally touring acts like Disney on Ice and WWE would also be invited to the arena. It would include retail space for local shops and a cafe to open, and also to offer space for the Hard Rock Cafe or Planet Hollywood.
Los estimates the arena could bring 6,000 to 8,000 jobs to the East End, while also creating more income for year-round small businesses, and for businesses that would normally shutter during the quiet winter months in the Hamptons.
Visitors would come from all over Long Island, as well as Connecticut, to catch a show at the new arena, according to Los.
He plans to reveal more details in the coming days when a website on the proposal debuts. He will gather community feedback through the website, to then take to government officials.
Los said he will seek to meet with the East Hampton and Southampton Town boards to make his pitch and find out how receptive they are to the idea. He will not lay out money on renderings or specific plans just yet—he just wants to get their feelings first.
“I’m a cut-and-dry guy.” Los said. “I’m not going to run around chasing my tail.”
He expects red tape, but said he is prepared to bring scissors.
Los states on his blog that his ideal location is on the ocean between East Hampton and Montauk.
He plans to name it the Hamptonites Arena, in line with his “Hamptonites” brand that includes a clothing line and beverage company, among other ventures.