Stakes High: Exploring Repercussions and Consequences
Steve Cohen's ambitious plan to build an $8.1 billion casino and entertainment complex, Metropolitan Park, near Citi Field in Queens, faces several political and procedural challenges.
Legislative Approval and Community Support
Cohen's plan hinges on the approval of a critical legislative step allowing the use of 50 acres of city-owned parkland for the project. The New York State Assembly overwhelmingly approved this bill in May 2025, but the bill still faces uncertain support in the State Senate. The Senate must pass the bill for Cohen to proceed to city zoning and land-use approvals.
The local Community Advisory Committee, which includes supportive elected officials like Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblymember Larinda Hooks, and City Councilmember Francisco Moya, as well as gubernatorial and mayoral appointees, will also need to approve Cohen's proposal. This committee's vote, which requires a two-thirds majority, will be issued by the end of September 2025.
Following local approval, the New York Gaming Commission will decide by the end of 2025 which projects receive one of three downstate casino licenses. The competition involves other major operators like MGM Resorts and Resorts World.
Opposition and Controversies
Some community activists and politicians oppose the project due to potential negative impacts on immigrant neighborhoods, concerns about the size and environmental consequences of the 3.7-million-square-foot development with over 20-story towers, and worries over social effects. This opposition complicates securing broader political and local community support.
Current Status
Despite these challenges, Cohen has gained significant support from local community boards, the Queens Borough President, the City Council, the State Assembly, and parts of the State Senate committee process, even if full Senate approval is still pending. The local Community Advisory Committee's review is underway as of early August 2025, and initial indicators are positive given the presence of supportive members on the committee and prior community board endorsements.
The Future of Metropolitan Park
If approved, Metropolitan Park would redefine the area around Citi Field and potentially set a new standard for sports-adjacent casino development in the U.S. The project would integrate gambling into a Major League Baseball campus, marking a historic first. Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe, is bringing its global casino experience to the Metropolitan Park bid.
Hard Rock International has also promised to extend its Unity rewards program to local businesses and open a Queens Music Museum to showcase the borough's musical legacy. The proposal has received an 88% approval rate through community boards and backing from the borough president, city council, and state legislature.
The approval of Metropolitan Park could cement Steve Cohen's status as a New York power broker with ambitions beyond the diamond. However, the final outcome depends on the pending approvals from the State Senate, the Community Advisory Committee, and the New York Gaming Commission.
- Steve Cohen's plan for Metropolitan Park, an $8.1 billion casino and entertainment complex, includes integrating sports betting, poker, and other casino games within its offerings, positioning it as a sports-adjacent casino development.
- The competition for New York's downstate casino licenses, which include Cohen's Metropolitan Park project, also involves well-established operators like MGM Resorts and Resorts World, possibly expanding the landscape of online casino offerings in the state.
- If approved, Metropolitan Park, featuring attractions such as a Queens Music Museum and experiences from global casino brand Hard Rock International, could potentially make Steve Cohen a New York power broker, ushering in a new era of sports- and entertainment-centric development, including sports-betting opportunities.
