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Hard Rock International and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen unveiled an $8 billion plan to break up 50 acres of asphalt and build a New York casino.
The collaborators said they met with Mets fans, Queens residents, community leaders, and small business owners over the course of three years for design input on the proposed Metropolitan Park.
Their Sept. 25 announcement includes renderings and space for:
Commercial Development
- A live music venue and a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
- A Queens Food Hall featuring local restaurants, bars, and vendors
Climate-Friendly Features
- 20 acres of new public park space
- 5 acres of community athletic fields and playgrounds.
- Solar, green roofs, and flood mitigation
Improved public transit and parking
- New connections to the waterfront, park, and surrounding community
- ADA-accessible 7-line train station
- Modernized road network, bike paths, and parking infrastructure
More than $1 billion in dedicated community benefits
- A Community Impact Fund for local non-profit organizations
- Community-identified health care and youth- and senior-focused funding
Cohen and the casino company need more support, however. The Citi Field parking lot site is zoned for park development, so the casino and entertainment portion of plans will require local and state concessions. Cohen and Hard Rock Casino executives also need to secure one of three downstate operator licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission.
Plans for Bets Near the New York Mets
The New York sports betting market is among the national leaders in terms of volume, revenue, and taxation. More than 90% of wagers change hands online through sports betting apps and sites.
Metropolitan Park plans call for an in-person sportsbook between a full casino resort and the home plate end of Citi Field.
“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” Cohen said. “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy but can be truly proud of.”
Hard Rock and Cohen say the project will create 23,000 competitive-paying union jobs. Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen said Metropolitan Park plans illustrate “what’s possible for a world-class city and its surrounding neighborhoods.”
“We’d like to thank our partners for working with us to create something truly transformative,” he said. “We take great pride and the utmost care in bringing forth something that will create much-needed jobs and memories that will live on for generations to come.”
New York Casino Arrival Could Add to Online Sports Betting Options
If Metropolitan Park advances past the land use and gaming license process, look for the Hard Rock Bet app to join the Empire State as an option.
Hard Rock Bet is available in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. New Jersey bettors can also play Hard Rock iGaming options, including slots, table games, and live dealer wagers.
