An $8 billion casino and entertainment complex in New York, long planned by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock Entertainment, is now a potential glide path to happening after the resolution of a late-developing conflict with the neighboring U.S. Tennis Association.
The operators of the US Open filed a lawsuit against the city of New York last week, challenging a move to enter into a pre-development agreement with Cohen and Hard Rock for the long-discussed casino complex, Metropolitan Park, to be located next to Citi Field. The USTA argued the casino plan violates the existing “superiority clause” it holds for area parking lots, local access, and event scheduling during the US Open, with the exception of Mets home games.
Already, there are multiple overlap dates each year between the Mets and the US Open—something that can test local resources further and is a dynamic only set to increase substantially with a casino complex next to the ballpark.
Almost as quickly as the dispute arose, however, the issue was largely resolved. The city’s agreement with Cohen and Hard Rock, now signed, preserves the US Open’s superiority in the area and codifies protections for USTA.
“We have successfully signed our pre-development agreement with the City,” Metropolitan Park wrote in a statement. “This moves forward Metropolitan Park as a comprehensive transformation of the area that embraces the existing sports attractions to create a world-class sports and entertainment destination in the heart of Queens. This is a positive step forward for the local community and fans.”
License Watch
The final, and by far, most crucial step now awaits next month, when the New York State Gaming Commission is expected to award as many as three downstate casino licenses.
In addition to the Cohen-Hard Rock proposal for Metropolitan Park, there are two other top candidates for the licenses: Resorts World New York City, which plans to build at the site of the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, and Bally’s, which plans a $4 billion resort complex at Ferry Point in the Bronx. The trio is the only three remaining applications, so the key question is whether the board will award licenses to all three or limit its final selection.
The gaming commission’s facility location board made site visits to the three locations earlier this week, and continues to review application details from each, but has not yet detailed their findings. That board will make recommendations to the gaming commission by Dec. 1, with those conclusions likely influential in the final selections.
“The purpose of each visit is for the board to obtain an understanding of the physical location, and, if necessary, seek clarification regarding the transportation, parking, infrastructure, and layout components of the proposal,” the facility location board said.
Soccer Considerations
The other key element in the overall reshaping of the Willets Point area of Queens, which includes Citi Field and the tennis complex, is the forthcoming stadium for Major League Soccer’s NYCFC. Set to open in 2027 on the other side of Citi Field from the casino complex, Etihad Park will additionally have overlap dates with the US Open.
That will be the case even after the momentous decision last week by MLS to adopt a fall-to-spring schedule, adhering to the sport’s international standard, beginning in 2027. NYCFC is not part of the casino plan, but has been strongly supportive of the effort. So, too, is the USTA, despite the legal action against the city.
“We’re in favor of anything that the residents of Queens, and especially this immediate area, are in favor of, and anything that’s going to make this area better,” NYCFC CEO Brad Sims told Front Office Sports in September. “There’s a great discourse going on with the community and the community leaders, and the Mets have done a great job listening to the feedback and working that into their proposal.”
