Billy Joel played a sold-out concert to open the newly renovated Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday night after closing out the old Coliseum nearly two years ago.
The Coliseum got a $165 million face-lift, including a new aluminum exterior featuring fins that pay tribute to Long Island’s coastal ties.
The arena also got a brand new name: the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. A new outdoor plaza features a veterans memorial with an eternal flame at its center.
The 18-month renovation left the Coliseum with about 2,500 fewer fixed seats, but some 16,000 people descended on the arena to see Joel play on Wednesday night. He closed the old Coliseum back in August 2015.
Fans streamed into the Coliseum parking lot Wednesday evening, hoping this will be the first of many shows by Joel. Wednesday's show is his 33rd sold-out concert at the Coliseum.
Bob Berki, of South Hempstead, said he and his family were excited to see Joel live at the new arena.
“We’re Long Island, born and raised,” Berki said. “Island of fans — been coming here for ages.”
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Fran Smith saw Joel close out the arena in 2015. She and her cousin Nicki Mayfield went to Hicksville High with the pop star and used to see him all the time. They were back at the Coliseum Wednesday.
"Time to party! Go Billy!" they shouted from the parking lot before the concert.
Dan Derupo, of Lynbrook, scored last minute tickets to spend his birthday with the Piano Man and thousands of other fans.
"I think he's a little sentimental about opening a Long Island arena again," Derupo said.
Locals hope the new Coliseum is good for business after the Islanders moved to Barclays Center in 2015.
Officials say the arena already has big acts like Barbra Streisand and Bruno Mars lined up and that more than 1,000 people have been hired to work the venue.
