Metropolitan Park Becomes Fourth Downstate Casino Project Approved by Local Committee

Metropolitan Park, the Queens-based $8 billion project backed by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, became the fourth casino project to clear a key local hurdle after receiving unanimous approval from its Community Advisory Committee (CAC) on September 30.

The 6-0 vote adds momentum to Queens’ bid for a full-scale casino license. Meanwhile, it highlights the divide in New York City’s casino race, where all four advancing projects are in the outer boroughs. At the same time, none in Manhattan have survived the community review process.

Unanimous Vote in Queens

The Metropolitan Park CAC was established under state law to evaluate local feedback for each application. It consists of six appointed members representing the governor, mayor, borough president, state senator, assembly member, and city council. All six voted in favor of advancing the project to the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB).

Lin Zeng, Eric Adams’ representative, described the plan as an “exciting opportunity for the surrounding Queens neighborhoods to share in the benefits of a licensed full-scale commercial casino.”

In a statement, Zeng added that City Hall sees casinos as “major economic development initiatives, creating good-paying jobs and delivering benefits to the city, region, and local communities.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. called the approval a turning point for the borough. “This is truly a historic moment for the world’s borough,” Richards said. He recalled Queens’ high unemployment rate and its status as an epicenter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that Metropolitan Park will “create more than 20,000 good-paying union jobs” and deliver “hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars in wages for Queens families.”

Furthermore, Richards said: “We’re talking about building a massive entertainment complex as Queens becomes the true cultural heartbeat of the city. Not Manhattan, not Brooklyn, not any other borough. Queens hit the jackpot with the Metropolitan Park project… While the Mets may not make the playoffs, I think we could consider this a home run for Citi Field and for Queens.”

Assembly Member Linda Hooks, who chaired the meeting, emphasized that the project had incorporated extensive community input during two public hearings.

Meeting & Final Proceedings

The September 30 session began with procedural matters. That included approval of the minutes from the committee’s August organizational meeting, followed by a swift vote. Members had the option to explain their votes. Several used the opportunity to underscore the project’s projected economic and cultural benefits.

Unlike some competing bids, which added numerous last-minute amendments to sway CAC votes, Metropolitan Park did not make any adjustments to its proposal.

Richards highlighted that a dedicated task force would be created to monitor Metropolitan Park’s commitments. He emphasized that written agreements and ongoing oversight are critical to ensure transparency and accountability once construction and operations commence (if approved).

The Four Approved Projects

With Metropolitan Park’s approval, all CACs have now voted, and four casino projects are advancing to the state’s GFLB:

• Resorts World New York City (Queens): The existing racino at Aqueduct Racetrack. It’s widely considered a frontrunner due to its established presence and infrastructure.
• Empire City Casino by MGM (Yonkers): Another existing racino, also considered a frontrunner for a full license.
• Bally’s Bronx: A proposal at the former Trump Golf Links site in Ferry Point.
• Metropolitan Park (Queens): The Willets Point proposal adjacent to Citi Field, backed by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen.

Manhattan Shut Out

Notably, there won’t be a casino in Manhattan, as the borough has effectively been eliminated from the casino race.

The CACs for all three proposals — Caesars Palace Times Square, The Avenir in Hudson Yards, and Freedom Plaza, near the UN on Manhattan’s East Side — rejected the bids with a 4–2 vote.

All three, especially Caesars Palace Times Square, saw deep local opposition and skepticism about bringing a casino to the city’s busiest borough. Many residents’ testimonies centered around infrastructure, image, and crime concerns. That effectively convinced the CACs that a casino does not belong in Manhattan.

What Happens Next

The fate of the four surviving bids now lies with the state’s GFLB. The Board will weigh the financial, community, and development merits of each application. It will then make its final recommendation to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC).

It is expected that the GFLB will make its decision by December 1. The NYSGC will award the licenses by the end of the year. Notably, the Commission has signaled that it may award fewer than three licenses if it finds the pool of applicants to be inadequate.

That possibility raises the stakes for projects like Bally’s Bronx and Metropolitan Park. Both must demonstrate not only local support but also long-term viability and alignment with state economic goals.

Meanwhile, NYSGC Chairman Brian O’Dwyer has indicated that there are no frontrunners. O’Dwyer also warned that the state will heavily factor in violations in other jurisdictions. That warning could be concerning for both racinos. Their parent companies were subject to high-profile AML enforcement fines in Nevada earlier this year.