Steve Cohen’s Queens Casino Plan Gains Ground as Manhattan Bids Stumble

Steve Cohen, who owns the Mets, sees his dream of an $8 billion entertainment and casino complex near Citi Field picking up speed. His proposal now stands out as one of the top contenders in New York’s fierce competition for three downstate casino licenses.

‘Metropolitan Park’ Now Leads the Pack After Manhattan Casino Bids Fall Short

Cohen has teamed up with Hard Rock International to pitch “Metropolitan Park” as a game-changer for Queens. The plan aims to build a casino, hotels, restaurants, live entertainment, and plenty of community space, including a new 25-acre public park. Those who back the project say it would create tens of thousands of union jobs and provide a steady flow of money for the city and state.

The project has become a top choice in part due to recent problems for competitors. Two big Manhattan plans — a Times Square bid supported by Caesars, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and SL Green, and another from Silverstein Properties close to Hudson Yards — were both turned down by local advisory boards after strong neighborhood pushback. Now that these options are gone, experts in the field say Cohen’s Queens plan, along with existing racetrack casinos at Aqueduct in Queens and Yonkers Raceway, is in the best position, reported The New York Post.

Former state regulators think Resorts World in Queens and MGM’s Empire City in Yonkers have a leg up. These places already run slot parlors and can grow into full-fledged casinos. People say Cohen’s bid stands out as the most daring among the new players. This comes after he beat earlier pushback in Albany. This spring, state lawmakers gave the green light to change the zoning of Citi Field‘s nearby parking lots. This paved the way to build businesses on land that was once set aside as a parking space.

Cohen’s Casino Bid Could Turn Queens into Year-Round Fun Spot

State Senator Jessica Ramos at first stood against the project. However, her stance did not hold up when the bill sailed through both chambers with huge backing. Other Queens lawmakers, like Senator John Liu and Assemblymember Larinda Hooks, have given the plan a thumbs-up. They point to new jobs and better infrastructure as reasons for their support.

Still, regulators face a tough choice. Cohen’s site sits just ten miles from Resorts World, which raises concerns about too many casinos in one area. Some politicians worry that giving the green light to a new casino so close to existing ones could steal customers from established businesses.

Beyond the financial side of things, Cohen’s project carries a deeper meaning. His plan would transform the area around Citi Field into a year-round fun spot instead of just a place to watch baseball in summer. Supporters claim this could change how Queens makes money while putting the borough at the center of New York’s casino scene. The state Gaming Commission will make its licensing choices later this year. Until then, Cohen’s offer, helped by the failure of flashy Manhattan rivals, remains one of the strongest options on the table.