2023-11-08 08:26:27
NEW YORK — The area around Citi Field will look very different in the future if New York Mets owner and billionaire Steve Cohen has his way.
Cohen announced plans Tuesday for new development on the 50 acres of asphalt around the stadium. The project, known as Metropolitan Park, will include 20 acres of new public park space and an additional five acres of sports fields and playgrounds.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the proposal, which might employ up to 15,000 people.
The development also includes a food hall, pre-event dining and drinking space, bars and restaurants, conference spaces and cycle lanes.
One of the key pieces of the project is a Hard Rock hotel, which will include a live music and gaming venue.
“Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park will be rooted in the spirit of music while embracing the unique culture and character of Queens,” Jim Allen, president of Hard Rock International, said in a statement. “Metropolitan Park captures the energy and vision of bringing people together for memorable shared experiences…”
The prospect of a full casino in the state has many people betting big.
Last year, our sister chain NBC New York reported that at least four groups wanted a casino, as part of a process that began in January 2023. The number of offers is now expected to be 11. However, the state gaming commission only plans to issue three casinos. licenses in New York City, Long Island or Westchester County.
The goal in Metropolitan Park is to build a casino and sportsbook, but that license is needed from the gaming commission.
“We’ll see that I think the other sites outside of Queens are not ideal and we are very optimistic regarding both proposals for the borough of Queens,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
The state gaming commission is still months away from making a final decision on where those three licenses will go.
“It’s time for the world’s greatest city to get the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” Cohen said in a statement. “When I bought this team, the fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come and enjoy, but can also be truly proud of.”
Metropolitan Park leaders cite 15 community workshops that were held to seek ideas on how to better develop the area around Citi Field, which has two million fans who visit each year.
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