Belmont Park Reopens Following Major Reconstruction

Belmont Park welcomed fans back on September 18 following a three-year, $555 million reconstruction of the iconic Long Island racetrack. 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined the New York Racing Association and project partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony ahead of the first day of racing, which drew a sold-out crowd of 6,000. 

Structural Engineering and Façade Design for Belmont Park’s New Grandstand

Thornton Tomasetti provided structural engineering and façade consulting services to Populous for the modernization, which included demolition of the existing 1.25-million-square-foot grandstand and construction of a new approximately 300,000-square-foot, five-story grandstand and clubhouse with a cantilevered canopy. 

The first two floors opened for the return of racing, with the remaining three scheduled for completion ahead of the full opening in the first quarter of 2027. Once complete, the grandstand will accommodate approximately 10,000 spectators, while Belmont Park will have an overall capacity of at least 50,000 for the Belmont Stakes and other major racing events.

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