Steve Cohen’s vision of building a casino in the Citi Field parking lot took a step forward Wednesday, with Metropolitan Park’s land use and rezoning proposals approved 41-2 by the New York City Council. All six community boards voted to approve the project, with 83% of board members voting in favor.
“This project is about more than building a sports and entertainment park,” Council member Francisco Moya said. “It’s about creating meaningful job opportunities with 100% union jobs, investing back into our community, and elevating our local economy to unprecedented heights.”
Moya, along with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Assemblymember Larinda Hooks, have endorsed the $8 billion plan. The project is also expected to include a food hall with local vendors, a live music venue, and a conference space. Cohen has previously stated that the proposal would create 23,000 jobs and improve public transit. The approval now allows Cohen and Hard Rock International to make necessary zoning changes to the land.
Some obstacles still need to be cleared for the project to officially get the green light, including obtaining a casino license, which needs to be approved by the state’s Gaming Commission. Cohen is competing against 11 others who are pitching casinos in Manhattan, the Bronx, Yonkers, Long Island, and Queens. The commission grants up to three licenses each year. While the project is overwhelmingly popular in Queens, Councilmember Joann Ariola voted against it due to her support of Resorts World, which is located in Jamaica, just outside of her district.
“I don’t think there’s enough of a market share of two casinos in Queens,” Ariola told the Queens Eagle. “If two (casinos) are in Queens, only one will prevail.”
Resorts World is already operating as a racino, but if granted a casino license, plans to spend $5 billion to expand into a larger venue. Since it’s already operating, Resorts World is perceived as a favorite to get a license. Another racino, Empire City Casino in Yonkers, is expected to receive a license, Aaron Short of City and State NY wrote back in February. Short adds that Empire City has received support from MGM Resorts and become popular among Westchester business leaders.
In addition to the casino license, Cohen needs a parkland alienation bill, which Senator and mayoral candidate Jessica Ramos opposed in 2024. Ramos has said she doesn’t expect to change her mind this year. Cohen will also need an approval from the local community advisory community, which will be made up of a mayoral representative, a gubernatorial representative, a City Council representative, the local assemblymember (Hooks), the local state Senator (Ramos), and the borough president (Richards). Two-thirds must vote in support of the project for it to get the Council’s OK.
“From the very beginning we have been focused on creating something the community can be truly proud of,” Cohen said. “It’s time the world’s greatest borough gets the investment it deserves.”
