Updated Post: June 28 at 11:03 AM

Steve Cohen and his team have officially submitted an application to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board for one of three downstate gaming licenses.

“This is a major milestone in our efforts to bring Metropolitan Park to life,” Steve Cohen said in a statement.

The Hard Rock Casino is the centerpiece of the $8 billion development project, Metropolitan Park. The plan includes a 25-acre public park, new shops, restaurants, and a completely redeveloped Mets-Willets Point subway station. The development team has estimated it would add 23,000 union jobs and provide $1 billion in community benefits.

This, however, is just one step in the process of adding the casino to Metropolitan Park. The project hinges on the addition of the Hard Rock Casino, and only three casinos are able to attain the necessary three licenses. The group behind Metropolitan Park has stated the plans for the surrounding area will halt if they do not receive a downstate license.

There are currently eight different projects vying for three licenses. Two projects, Empire City in Yonkers and Resorts World NYC in Queens, are expansions of existing “racinos,” casinos that feature racetracks and were early favorites to win the licenses earlier in the process.

The other six projects vying for the licenses are locations at Times Square, the United Nations, Coney Island, and the former Trump Links golf course in the Bronx, among other locations. Steve Cohen still faces fierce competition. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board’s decision is expected to be made in December.

Along with the casino, Metropolitan Park will feature a food venue building called the Queens Food Hall. The new addition will be 30,000 square feet and feature approximately 20 restaurants. It’s comparable to the Queens Night Market. It is expected to be open by 2030.

Updated Post: May 28 at 9:45 am

On Tuesday, the New York State Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of legislation that would help Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International’s plans for Metropolitan Park become a reality. In a 54-5 vote, the Senate approved a parkland alienation bill that would reclassify the 50-acre parking lot outside Citi Field from public parkland to commercial property.

The key legislation for Cohen’s $8 billion project to proceed was introduced by state Senator John Liu in April. Following approval from both houses of the state legislature, the bill now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul to be signed into law.

The Metropolitan Park project hinges on getting a casino license, with the New York State Gaming Commission deciding on three it will give out later this year. The good news for Cohen and Hard Rock is that the Wynn Resorts and the Las Vegas Sands have both recently dropped out of the running.

The Cohen plan would also provide a 25-acre public park, the Queens Food Hall, a live music venue, and a bicycle and pedestrian pathway.

“This is just the start, and we are committed to working closely with the community and fans every step of the way,” Cohen said in a statement to QNS.

Updated Post: May 19 at 2:54 PM

Steve Cohen is another step closer to seeing his plans for Metropolitan Park come to life. Christopher Palmeri and Natalie Wong of Bloomberg reported Monday that Wynn Resorts dropped their plans for their Hudson Yards casino near NYC’s High Line area. 

In a statement, Wynn Resorts said, “After careful consideration, we have decided not to lodge an application for a gaming license in New York City.” The company cited “persistent opposition” and a “rezoning process” for withdrawing from the project. Many were concerned with its potential proximity to the High Line, a 1.45-mile outdoor area spanning the west side of New York City.

According to Carl Campanile of the NY Post, the proposal for the Wynn Resorts project was opposed by Friends of the High Line and Community Board 4.

Wynn Resorts is the latest project to withdraw, joining Las Vegas Sands Corp and Saks Global in the greater New York area.

Applications for casino licenses are due June 27, with a decision coming on December 1 and licenses being awarded by the end of the year, according to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board.

Updated Post: May 14 at 2:30 PM

Steve Cohen’s plan for Metropolitan Park cleared one more hurdle on Tuesday when the New York State Assembly voted in favor of the proposal. Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks (D-Queens) introduced the bill “to discontinue the use as parkland and alienate certain land within Flushing Meadows Corona Park.” The assembly overwhelmingly (138-7) voted in favor of the bill and moved Cohen closer to getting his $8 billion plan, including a casino near Citi Field.

“This is the opportunity to bring real investment to our local economy, having the bold vision of turning 50 acres of asphalt into an entity that delivers real benefits.” Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks (D-Queen), the bill’s sponsor said before voting.

Next up is a vote in the State Senate, where Senator Jessica Ramos resides, who has opposed the project and previously declined to propose a bill to remove the parkland designation.

Cohen’s bid for a casino received good news last month when the Las Vegas Sands announced they were no longer interested in a New York Casino.

Updated Post: Apr. 29 at 3:00 pm

Once again, Steve Cohen has surpassed another hurdle in his quest for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park at Citi Field.

According to Nacha Cattan of Bloomberg, a New York State Senate committee voted Tuesday to approve a bill allowing Cohen to build on the 50-acre parking lot adjacent to Citi Field. The bill will then go to the Assembly, where it must pass and then move on to NY Governor Kathy Hochul for her signature. It’s important to note there hasn’t been any vocal opposition to Cohen’s plans here.

More importantly, Cattan noted most bills that pass the committee stage eventually get approval in the State Senate. However, Cohen is still one of a dozen applicants vying for three casino licenses. The NY State Gaming Commission only grants up to three casino licenses every year.

Often like the Mets, Cohen has made an Amazin’ comeback in his attempts to build Metropolitan Park. Once thought to be dead after State Senator Jessica Ramos from Queens wouldn’t support the project, State Senator John Liu, another Queens Senator, whose district includes a small portion of where Metropolitan Park would be located, introduced legislation earlier in 2025 to help Cohen’s vision and project.

Original Post: Mar. 31

Steve Cohen has cleared a major obstacle in his Metropolitan Park plans.

According to Jacob Kaye of the Queens Daily Eagle, New York State Senator John Liu announced at an event surrounding the potential Metropolitan Park that he would permit Mets owner Steve Cohen to build a casino on its grounds. Kaye notes Liu is going over fellow State Senator Jessica Ramos in this situation, claiming that the two are close, but it’s clear the constituents want to see the casino happen.

Photo Credit: QNS dot com

Ramos refused to introduce a bill that would change the designation of the land needed for Metropolitan Park from parkland to commerical use. Liu introduced that bill on Sunday at an event with Steve Cohen. 

Of note, Liu initially opposed Cohen’s plans for the casino. What changed for him was an agreement between Waterfront Alliance (a regional community organization and alliance of over 1,100 organizations, selected by Metropolitan Park due to their advocacy for waterfront access and climate resiliency around the Flushing Meadows Corona Park area) and Cohen, where the Mets owner promised to build a Skypark over Flushing Creek.

Image via: John C. Liu on Twitter

It’s unknown who owns the land the bridge and park would be built on (most likely not Cohen), but it connects to a new development at Willets Point, which is land the city owns and leased to former Mets owners. The sky park will be reminiscent of the High Line in the city, spanning from Flushing Creek, and will connect downtown Flushing from 39th Avenue and College Point Boulevard to Willets Point.

Image via: John C. Liu on Twitter

However, Nick Garber of Crains New York noted if Cohen doesn’t get the approvals for the casino, plus public and private funding, he will donate $100 million along with his partners (Hard Rock International) to improve Flushing Meadows Park. This is why Liu changed his opinion on the matter, noting the newly formed “ironclad accountability measures.”

Cohen still needs to win the license for the casino, however. There are 11 others who are pitching casinos in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Yonkers and Long Island. The New York State’s Gaming Commission only grants up to three licenses a year, and Resorts World in Jamaica has favorable support from others. Metropolitan Park land use proposals were recently approved by the city council just under two weeks ago (41-2), another favorable step for Cohen and the Mets. For more information regarding that, click here.

Both sides made it clear they want to see the area surrounding Citi Field improve. Now, it’s closer than ever. 

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