On September 30th, a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) unanimously approved Metropolitan Park, an $8bn (£5bn) casino and entertainment project proposed for New York.
The project is supported by Hard Rock International and Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets.
After all Manhattan bids were turned down by their respective CACs, the 6-0 committee vote makes Metropolitan Park in Queens the fourth downstate New York casino project, joining proposals in Queens, Yonkers and the Bronx.
The governor, mayor, borough president, state senator, assembly member and city council all appoint representatives to the CAC, which was created to facilitate local input and community concerns.
With the committee’s vote in favour, Metropolitan Park is forwarded to the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) for additional review.
Economic Impact and Community Review
Lin Zeng, representative for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, called Metropolitan Park “an exciting opportunity for the surrounding Queens neighbourhoods to share in the benefits of a licensed full-scale commercial casino.”
Zeng and other committee members emphasised potential gains in jobs and economic development.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. described the approval as “a turning point for the world’s borough,” citing the area’s high unemployment and economic challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic.
All four CACs have voted on downstate casino projects, including Bally’s Bronx, Empire City Casino by MGM (Yonkers), Resorts World New York City (Queens), and Metropolitan Park (Queens), with approval from Metropolitan Park.
On the other hand, residents’ opposition to the three Manhattan proposals — Caesars Palace Times Square and Freedom Plaza — was mostly motivated by worries about infrastructure, crime, and traffic.
In order to make recommendations to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), which anticipates awarding new casino licenses by the end of the year, the GFLB will now assess the remaining bids based on their financial, community, and development merits.
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