NYC Council Approves Zoning Change For Citi Field CasinoA Whopping 41-2 Margin Gave The OK To Zone An Area Next To The Mets' Home Field For A Casino |
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New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s dreams of a casino next to Citi Field took a huge step forward.
The City Council approved a zoning change by a 41-2 margin that would give a 50-acre parking lot the go-ahead to become a public space that would include a casino, 25-acre public park, shopping, restaurants, bike paths, and more.
The project, known as Metropolitan Park, is adjacent to Citi Field in Queens. It is a partnership between the New York Mets and Hard Rock International.
Hard Rock International is the corporate umbrella of Florida’s Seminole Tribe. This could be tribe’s first land-based footprint in the Empire State. Currently, the tribe owns casinos in New Jersey, Mississippi, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, South Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, California, Iowa, Oklahoma, and will soon open properties in Wisconsin and Nevada.
“I’m proud to support this transformative project and help make it a reality for our district, for Queens, and for the entire city,” said councilman Francisco Moy, who represents the area. “This project is about more than building a sports and entertainment park. It’s about creating meaningful job opportunities with 100% union jobs, investing back into our community, and elevating our local economy to unprecedented heights.”
Along with adding the casino and amenities, the plan also calls for renovating a nearby subway station and improving local roadways. The area was previously designated as a public park and needed zoning changes before a possible project could proceed.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has been pushing for a casino near his team’s ballpark for several years. He was pleased to see the project moving forward.
“Metropolitan Park will deliver 25 acres of vibrant public park space, 23,000 well-paying union jobs, and much-needed transit upgrades,” he said after the zoning change was approved. “It’s time the world’s greatest borough gets the investment it deserves.”
The bidding process for the casino license has been ongoing since 2021, but the New York State Gaming Commission is expected to award three licenses by the end of this year. Two of those areas are expected to go to existing “racinos” located in the New York City area with one reserved for a new property.
Several other proposals are being considered, including a Wynn development in the Hudson Yards area of Manhattan. Bally’s, MGM Resorts, and several other companies are also in the bidding as well.
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