NYC Nassau Coliseum Casino Plan Brings ControversyCounty In Legal Battle With Hofstra University |
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The ongoing battle in the bidding process to secure a New York City casino license has now led to a lawsuit involving the potential location of a proposed casino by Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
The gaming company hopes to secure the license and build a casino at the site of the Nassau Coliseum. Nearby Hofstra University has sued to block the plans, causing county officials to delay a lease transfer to Sands and possibly nixing a casino plan for the site altogether.
County officials have even accused Hofstra of “colluding” with a competing bid from Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International. The two partners plan to build a casino resort complex in the area surrounding Citi Field in Queens.
Legal Issues Put Plan In Jeopardy
Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum was built in 1969-72 and was the longtime home of the Islanders NHL franchise until the team moved on to the Barclays Center in 2015. The venue has also hosted minor league hockey as well as professional lacrosse, basketball, indoor soccer, tennis, and other sports.
The property has also been home to major concerts including Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and numerous others. But the arena is now causing some major friction among country officials and Hofstra.
Sands’ plans call for a $5 billion project that includes a casino, hotel, entertainment venue, and housing all built on the site. County officials approved a 99-year lease for Sands to develop the 72-acre site in May.
However, plans for a casino now appear to be in jeopardy. Hofstra sued last spring arguing that “the county had denied them sufficient opportunity to provide feedback on a lease transfer for the site,” according to the New York Daily News.
Accusations Fly
The move has sparked quite a legal battle and the county recently subpoenaed university president Susan Poser to testify in front of the Nassau legislature. The subpoena also demands university officials to provide all communications between the university and the Cohen-Hard Rock bid. Hard Rock and Poser have denied any communication with the university, according to media reports.
“No evidence was offered at the press conference of such communication or of any improper conduct by Hofstra University, yet great effort was taken to malign Hofstra University and announce the issuance of subpoenas to it,” university attorneys noted in court documents.
A state judge agreed with Hofstra in the fall and nullified the 99-year lease agreement with Sands. Nassau County has appealed that decision and the legal wranglings are expected to drag on.
New York online gaming and poker has also been in the news lately, with Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) filing a bill for legalization.
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