BY DENNIS LYNCH | The National Hockey League (NHL) plans to move its headquarters into Brookfield Properties’ One Manhattan West, the developer and league announced last week. The deal for 160,000 square feet of space means Manhattan West’s 1,200-foot-tall tower (located near Hudson Yards) is now 40% leased, a Brookfield representatives said.
The NHL will occupy five floors at the 67-story One Manhattan West tower and plans to install a hockey rink in its space, although Brookfield reps said that was not set in stone. Brookfield will need to acquire permits from the Parks and Recreation Department for the rink, according to NHL Group Vice President of Communications Frank Brown, who said the NHL could use it for various events.
“I’m sure there would be public skating and activities for which the rink would be used, but any time we would want to orchestrate an event there would be synergy with having on-ice opportunities,” Brown said.
The league will also lease 15,000 square feet of retail space at Manhattan West’s 200,000-square-foot retail center for an NHL Store where fans can grab merchandise from all of the league’s teams. Afterwards they can head a few blocks for a pint at The Flying Puck at the corner of Seventh Ave. and W. 30th St., a Rangers bar frequented by fans of many teams.
The NHL moves from its headquarters at 1185 Sixth Ave. (at W. 47th St.), which was roughly 27,000 square feet smaller. Its not the first company to pack up and head to the West Side from Midtown — just over a third of all the office space in terms of square-footage at the neighboring Hudson Yards development will be leased by companies previously located in Midtown East, according to the New York Post.
Brown called the area “new and exciting” and One Manhattan West “a place we feel is very much in sync with the growth and momentum of our league.”
David Cheikin, Head of New York for Brookfield Properties’ Office Division, said tenants are attracted to what will be a multi-use space with tons of dining, entertainment, and lifestyle comforts.
“We’re not only satisfying the requirements of the company from a facilities and infrastructure perspective, we’re satisfying the need from a human resources perspective and giving them the ability to attract and retain the best talent with amenities like food and beverage, daycare — it’s best in class,” Cheikin said.
The NHL joins the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in One Manhattan West. The firm signed its anchor lease for 550,000 square feet of space in the 28th to 43rd floors of the office tower in April of last year. Brookfield expects to complete the tower by the end of 2019. Brookfield is developing another new tower and redeveloping two other towers as part of the Manhattan West project.
It will also have a hotel, a public plaza, and a 844-unit, 62-story residential tower complete with “55,000-plus square feet of lifestyle and recreational amenities” including a basketball court, rock-climbing wall, a rooftop terrace, and a playroom for children.
