The New York Senate voted 54-5 to let New York City change the classification of 50 acres of parking lots around the Mets’ Citi Field, clearing a roadblock for Mets' owner Steve Cohen to build a casino there.
Cohen is applying for one of three licenses available for commercial casinos.
Key takeaways
- The Senate approved legislation allowing parking lots to be reclassified around Citi Field after getting Assembly approval earlier in May.
- The motion now waits for Gov. Kathy Hochul's approval or veto.
- Cohen plans to build an $8 billion casino resort with Hard Rock International on the land, which will include an entertainment district and park.
The land where Citi Field parking lots currently stand is classified as public parkland. Therefore, New York City must “alienate” the parkland before a private project like the Citi Field casino project can proceed.
Senate Bill S7121A, which received approval from the Assembly and Senate, requires Cohen and Hard Rock to develop at least 20 acres into a public park.
Cohen and Hard Rock International's proposal is to build an $8 billion casino resort and entertainment complex. The plans also include a proposal for a public park.
“After years of community engagement, thousands of conversations, and the leadership of our local elected officials, we are one step closer to transforming these asphalt lots into something our neighbors can truly be proud of,” Cohen said.
New York online casinos are not legal, so land-based casinos are the only way to gamble. Currently, the only casinos in New York are upstate.
Competition for New York casino licenses heats up
While this is a win for the Cohen-Hard Rock proposal, it's far from the only contender. Several plans are under consideration for the three commercial casino licenses available in downstate New York.
Earlier this year, New York State Gaming Commission executive director Robert Williams confirmed financial benefits will play a key role in determining which proposal receives approval from the state’s gambling regulator.
The competition is thinning out after Wynn Resorts withdrew its plan from the running. The company cited “persistent opposition” to its Hudson Yards West project. Before that, Las Vegas Sands dropped out of the race with its Nassau Coliseum on Long Island proposal.
Other operators remain in, like Caesars Entertainment, bidding with rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. That plan imagines a casino built in Times Square. Meanwhile, Resorts World, the Genting Group, and MGM Resorts are all in the running.
The proposal deadline is June 27, with winning bids confirmed at the start of December.
