>
On Monday, the New York State Gambling Facility Location Board met at the Proshansky Auditorium at CUNY Graduate Center in Midtown Manhattan to vote on who would be granted gambling licenses. The board approved Cohen and Hard Rock International’s $8 billion [**Metropolitan Park**](https://metsmerizedonline.com/details-emerge-for-metropolitan-park-project/) project. The board also voted to issue gaming licenses for the Bally’s and Resorts World projects.
>It will be built on 50 acres of asphalt parking lots next to Citi Field. A casino will anchor the development. Per the [**executive summary**](https://nycasinos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/07/gi1.hardrock.executivesummary.pdf) submitted to the board, construction will start in January 2026 and is estimated to take four years, with the target open date coming in June of 2030.
>The project will include a Hard Rock hotel, a live entertainment venue, restaurants, a convention center and retail space. One of the biggest questions for Mets fans has been regarding parking. Have no fear: there will be three multi-story [**parking garages**](https://metsmerizedonline.com/details-emerge-for-metropolitan-park-project/), including one each on either side of the stadium.
>“Backed by billions in private investment from New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, this shovel-ready proposal will create tens of thousands of union jobs, billions in tax revenue, unprecedented community engagement, with significant minority ownership,” according to the executive summary.
>Also in Metropolitan Park will be a Taste of Queens Food Hall, with about 20 local food vendors. There will be 25 acres of new public park space, including athletic fields, playgrounds and improvements to the local train station. Affordable housing units will be built in Corona, and annual grants will be awarded to Queens-based nonprofits focused on education, job development and culture.
Billions of tax revenue built on addicts
Gross
Fuck sports gambling
If anyone was curious, this is why baseball teams ‘lose money’ every year. The amortization of all this real estate is termed a ‘loss’ and is then written off on taxes.
Transforming pavement into functional, useable, walkable space is a net positive. This is what good ownership looks like.
Personally I’m against a casino
Bet the sportsbook gets built first then the rest gets forgotten about.
BREAKING: CJ Abrams has requested a trade to the New York Mets
Coulda just bought the Rays twice instead
Fuck gambling.
Also, aren’t there tons of chop shops around there? Is that gonna be taken over via eminent domain?
I don’t like the casino but seeing the other stuff will make for a much nicer experience visiting.
To a degree I get it all of the states doing this see it as free money and many of them have a looming public pension crisis on the horizon that they need the money for
But man the proliferation of casinos in every American city is really not great for these cities or residents AND is not going to raise as much tax revenue as believed
At least they’re overhauling the train station and boardwalk too. I have absolutely no plans on going to that casino but everything else will be a nice upgrade to the area.
I see everyone in here is very against gambling I see
I don’t mind a massive renovation of Citi Field’s parking. Right now the parking area is pretty confusing and ramshackle so I doubt this could be worse
`G` should be community baseball fields. It’s a shame it looks like they’re only planning on a soccer field and tennis courts(?)
The Adelsons are in shambles.
MLB: we are putting a limit on prop bets to limit sport betting impacting the integrity of the game
Steve Cohen: hey, so we just got approved to open the casino right next to our baseball stadium that will allow sports betting Luckily, it’s gonna be all privately funded.
MLB: cool just remember the limits
The Shea Stadium home plate plaque will now be under a craps table
How in the fuck is this 8 billion dollars
That’s aircraft carrier money
Fuck it im all for it. Its not the same idea (since this is centered around a casino) but more sports teams should strive to emulate what the Braves did around Truist
Overall, fuck yeah. Usable public spaces for more than just parking, renewable energy being integrated into the design, and making the whole area more welcoming to more than just baseball fans.
But it does feel tainted by gambling
I know people will dunk on this project, but that area has a long (LONG, maybe almost 100 years) history of redevelopment proposals that, for various reasons, have not gotten off the ground. As I understand it, the area is also toxic marshland (i.e., any redevelopment will be very expensive).
I know I’m a Mets fan and all, but I know the area well – so in comes a billionaire with the means and pocketbooks to make it economically feasible and can push through the bureaucracy to redevelop the area. It adds a lot of public green space, replacing large empty parking lots. Cleans up the toxic auto shop areas, adds local jobs, tons of other type of public spaces, etc. Could it be done better without a casino? Maybe, but nothing was happening for the longest time.
edit: Willets Point is not the focus btw, but will be chunked out for redevelopment (and hopefully the rest over time). There is also the NYFC stadium being built.
What about all of the local mechanics and scrap yards that are around the ballpark?
I know the casino isn’t great. But this will finally make that area a destination before games, there’s nothing to enjoy right near the stadium but chop shops.
Well that ends any hope for the jets to return to queens, even if it was small.
Kind of a shame.
Cons: A casino
Pros: Better than parking
Yall complain about everything. Get rid of the chop shops, making an awesome space with appeal for everyone, and we’re just complaining about a casino.
[deleted]
Very interesting how many people here have a huge issue with the casino but no one seems to mind the bars.
The soccer stadium to the right is currently being built. This looks interesting when it comes to fruition. But I’m curious how the solar panels reflection would impact pilots trying to land at LGA nearby?
now do this to the concrete sea in Philly
it’s the worst area to hang out before or after a game in the country
33 comments
[https://metsmerizedonline.com/metropolitan-park-project-gets-gaming-license/](https://metsmerizedonline.com/metropolitan-park-project-gets-gaming-license/)
>
On Monday, the New York State Gambling Facility Location Board met at the Proshansky Auditorium at CUNY Graduate Center in Midtown Manhattan to vote on who would be granted gambling licenses. The board approved Cohen and Hard Rock International’s $8 billion [**Metropolitan Park**](https://metsmerizedonline.com/details-emerge-for-metropolitan-park-project/) project. The board also voted to issue gaming licenses for the Bally’s and Resorts World projects.
>It will be built on 50 acres of asphalt parking lots next to Citi Field. A casino will anchor the development. Per the [**executive summary**](https://nycasinos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/07/gi1.hardrock.executivesummary.pdf) submitted to the board, construction will start in January 2026 and is estimated to take four years, with the target open date coming in June of 2030.
>The project will include a Hard Rock hotel, a live entertainment venue, restaurants, a convention center and retail space. One of the biggest questions for Mets fans has been regarding parking. Have no fear: there will be three multi-story [**parking garages**](https://metsmerizedonline.com/details-emerge-for-metropolitan-park-project/), including one each on either side of the stadium.
>“Backed by billions in private investment from New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, this shovel-ready proposal will create tens of thousands of union jobs, billions in tax revenue, unprecedented community engagement, with significant minority ownership,” according to the executive summary.
>Also in Metropolitan Park will be a Taste of Queens Food Hall, with about 20 local food vendors. There will be 25 acres of new public park space, including athletic fields, playgrounds and improvements to the local train station. Affordable housing units will be built in Corona, and annual grants will be awarded to Queens-based nonprofits focused on education, job development and culture.
Billions of tax revenue built on addicts
Gross
Fuck sports gambling
If anyone was curious, this is why baseball teams ‘lose money’ every year. The amortization of all this real estate is termed a ‘loss’ and is then written off on taxes.
Transforming pavement into functional, useable, walkable space is a net positive. This is what good ownership looks like.
Personally I’m against a casino
Bet the sportsbook gets built first then the rest gets forgotten about.
BREAKING: CJ Abrams has requested a trade to the New York Mets
Coulda just bought the Rays twice instead
Fuck gambling.
Also, aren’t there tons of chop shops around there? Is that gonna be taken over via eminent domain?
I don’t like the casino but seeing the other stuff will make for a much nicer experience visiting.
To a degree I get it all of the states doing this see it as free money and many of them have a looming public pension crisis on the horizon that they need the money for
But man the proliferation of casinos in every American city is really not great for these cities or residents AND is not going to raise as much tax revenue as believed
At least they’re overhauling the train station and boardwalk too. I have absolutely no plans on going to that casino but everything else will be a nice upgrade to the area.
I see everyone in here is very against gambling I see
I don’t mind a massive renovation of Citi Field’s parking. Right now the parking area is pretty confusing and ramshackle so I doubt this could be worse
`G` should be community baseball fields. It’s a shame it looks like they’re only planning on a soccer field and tennis courts(?)
The Adelsons are in shambles.
MLB: we are putting a limit on prop bets to limit sport betting impacting the integrity of the game
Steve Cohen: hey, so we just got approved to open the casino right next to our baseball stadium that will allow sports betting Luckily, it’s gonna be all privately funded.
MLB: cool just remember the limits
The Shea Stadium home plate plaque will now be under a craps table
How in the fuck is this 8 billion dollars
That’s aircraft carrier money
Fuck it im all for it. Its not the same idea (since this is centered around a casino) but more sports teams should strive to emulate what the Braves did around Truist
Overall, fuck yeah. Usable public spaces for more than just parking, renewable energy being integrated into the design, and making the whole area more welcoming to more than just baseball fans.
But it does feel tainted by gambling
I know people will dunk on this project, but that area has a long (LONG, maybe almost 100 years) history of redevelopment proposals that, for various reasons, have not gotten off the ground. As I understand it, the area is also toxic marshland (i.e., any redevelopment will be very expensive).
[https://www.untappedcities.com/history-future-willets-point-queens/](https://www.untappedcities.com/history-future-willets-point-queens/)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willets_Point](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willets_Point)
I know I’m a Mets fan and all, but I know the area well – so in comes a billionaire with the means and pocketbooks to make it economically feasible and can push through the bureaucracy to redevelop the area. It adds a lot of public green space, replacing large empty parking lots. Cleans up the toxic auto shop areas, adds local jobs, tons of other type of public spaces, etc. Could it be done better without a casino? Maybe, but nothing was happening for the longest time.
edit: Willets Point is not the focus btw, but will be chunked out for redevelopment (and hopefully the rest over time). There is also the NYFC stadium being built.
What about all of the local mechanics and scrap yards that are around the ballpark?
I know the casino isn’t great. But this will finally make that area a destination before games, there’s nothing to enjoy right near the stadium but chop shops.
Well that ends any hope for the jets to return to queens, even if it was small.
Kind of a shame.
Cons: A casino
Pros: Better than parking
Yall complain about everything. Get rid of the chop shops, making an awesome space with appeal for everyone, and we’re just complaining about a casino.
[deleted]
Very interesting how many people here have a huge issue with the casino but no one seems to mind the bars.
The soccer stadium to the right is currently being built. This looks interesting when it comes to fruition. But I’m curious how the solar panels reflection would impact pilots trying to land at LGA nearby?
now do this to the concrete sea in Philly
it’s the worst area to hang out before or after a game in the country
Gaming facility, like Call of Duty?