Key Senator Blocks Citi Field Casino Plan

Published on: June 1, 2024

A Senator has stopped the plan to build a casino at Citi Field.

Proposed Development

Hedge-fund billionaire Steve Cohen has announced plans for an $8bn development at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The plan, in partnership with Hard Rock International, includes:

A new entertainment complex
A live music venue
A Hard Rock hotel
Gaming facilities

Accompanying this development would be community investments such as 20 acres of new park space and five acres of athletic fields and playgrounds. They also commit to “climate-ready infrastructure.”

Project Location and Community

The project called Metropolitan Park is set for a 50-acre plot that is now the stadium's parking lot. However, this land is actually owned by the city and is meant to be parkland.

State Senator Jessica Ramos, who represents District 13 in New York, is against the casino project. She will not support laws to change the parkland in Corona for a casino. She believes the community needs more parks and places to play, not a casino.

Senator Ramos' Opposition

Ramos said, "We want investment and opportunities, but we also need parks and recreation areas for families." She also mentioned that the area has been ignored for a long time and that accepting a casino in exchange is not a good solution.

Senator Ramos' decision not to approve a bill about parkland can stop Cohen's project. The bill is needed to allow building on the city-owned land.

Alternative Proposal

Ramos suggests a new plan. It includes a convention center and hotel with more open green space but no casino. She says the location near LaGuardia Airport is well chosen and would help visitors and tourists. This plan tries to meet community needs and business interests, even though it may make less money for Cohen and Hard Rock.

Competing Casino Proposals

The New York State Gaming Commission will not finalize the three downstate casino sites until late 2025. Many operators are still vying for these positions. Besides the Citi Field proposal, other notable bids include:

MGM Resorts aiming to transform the Empire City Casino into a commercial resort
Genting Group's plan to repurpose Resorts World NYC in Queens

In Brooklyn, a group of companies, including the Chickasaw Nation, Saratoga Casino Holdings, and Thor Equities, is trying to get a spot in Coney Island. In Manhattan, Wynn Resorts and Caesars Entertainment are well-known bidders, aiming for sites in Hudson Yards and Times Square. Bally’s Corporation is going for a location at the old Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx.

Conclusion

Senator Ramos does not support the Cohen and Hard Rock casino plan at Citi Field, which could cause problems for the project. Another proposal aims to address community needs without building a casino. Many groups are competing for casino rights in New York, showing strong interest in the opportunity.