Billy Joel will open the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum with a concert on April 5, following a 20-month, $261 million renovation of the 44-year-old arena.

“I’m really looking forward to playing the opening,” Joel said Monday. “I felt a little sad about playing the final show [at the original Nassau Coliseum]. It was the end of an era in a way, like Long Island had grown up.”

Though Joel says he hasn’t started planning the reopening yet, he said some surprise guests are possible for the show, which will mark his 33rd appearance at the arena.

… The Hicksville native said he hopes the revitalized Uniondale arena will become a gathering place for Long Island.

Joel said he is recovering slowly from sinus surgery last month, but is looking forward to returning to the Madison Square Garden stage Oct. 28.

Read more of the interview with Glenn Gamboa at Newsday.

Photo by Myrna Suarez (@myrnsuarezphoto)