Mets owner Steve Cohen, Hard Rock International Team Up For Citi Field Casino
New York is set to get a swanky new gambling facility, equipped with some of our best sportsbooks in Metropolitan Park, the entertainment district connected to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has long been rumored to be interested in adding a high-end casino in a 50-acre parking lot in Queens, adjacent to the home of his MLB club.
Hard Rock International is the company tabbed to partner with Cohen to spruce up the area surrounding the ballpark and add to the New York sports betting scene.
"It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves. When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better,” said Cohen in a press release. "Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy but can be truly proud of.”
According to Spectrum Gaming, a company tasked with studying the viability of a Queens casino, $1.9 billion in annual revenues could be generated by such a location, in addition to the revenues generated from NY sports betting apps.
What can we expect from the development plan?
Metropolitan Park is poised to be New York's latest high-end, all-encompassing entertainment district. Cohen expects an $8-billion investment on the 50-acre property that will include a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and an entertainment district that will include restaurants, bars, and even a live music venue.
Park space, complete with 20 full acres of green space and access to Flushing Bay, will be included in the plans. New athletic fields, a renovated mass-transit station, and a “Queens food hall” will also be a part of the design, according to a spokesperson for Cohen.
"The project’s Queens-focused comprehensive design seamlessly addresses community priorities, climate resilience, and economic needs," the press release stated.
Thomas J. Grech, President & CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged the opportunity of such a concentrated entertainment district.
"Queens has long deserved a space that brings everything together – new green space, 365-day-per-year entertainment, better connectivity, and a real job creator in the area around Citi Field. No other project has done so much work to truly partner with the community. And it’s this bottom-up approach that gives everyone a voice right from the beginning that works," Grech said.
Hard Rock on a roll?
Hard Rock had a pretty good day on Tuesday. Not only was it mentioned as the casino partner for Cohen's Queens entertainment district, but it was also able to launch its mobile Hard Rock Bet brand in the contested, yet critical Florida sports betting space.
Just last week, the Seminoles, who own the Hard Rock bet brand, announced that they will start offering in-person sports betting in Florida at their retail casinos starting Dec. 7.
Hard Rock International owns a virtual monopoly on the Florida gambling scene but has been stalled in that jurisdiction by a flurry of litigation that argues the Seminoles' deal with the state violates the law.
The Seminoles and Hard Rock International have won their share of court battles, though, concerning launching legal mobile sports betting in the Sunshine State. It appears Hard Rock Bet and the Seminole Tribe could be on the verge of a major windfall with New York’s announcement and their recent moves in Florida.
