ICYMI: Blue Line Deli Partners With Islanders, Shaq, At UBS Arena

HUNTINGTON, NY — Donald Rosner drew on his love for the New York Islanders when opening the Blue Line Deli in Huntington a year-and-a-half ago. The hockey-themed deli is an ode to the NHL club Rosner grew up watching and has been a diehard fan of since he was a boy. The Islanders have drawn some inspiration of their own from Rosner's deli.

UBS Arena, the franchise's new home, opened its doors to fans for the first time on Saturday as the Islanders took on the Calgary Flames. The concessions of the Islanders arena will feature a Blue Line Deli kiosk among its New York-inspired food options. At a separate kiosk, Blue Line Deli, the Islanders, and Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken will debut a sandwich collaboration called "The Islander."

Rosner said he still can't quite believe that he is partnering with the Islanders and retired NBA superstar O'Neal to feed Islanders fans during the team's home games.

"Getting to be a fan and getting to be involved with the team, getting to hang out with Shaquille O'Neal; that only happened because of the road we've been on," Rosner told Patch. "This has been absolutely surreal and just amazing."

A couple of months ago, Rosner got a call from someone with the Islanders who asked him if he would be interested in working together to create a sandwich with a company called Big Chicken, a West Coast venture that, unbeknownst to Rosner, was owned by O'Neal. The hope was for a food item that was unapologetically New York and could be sold exclusively at UBS Arena.

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