Hard Rock International and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen won unanimous backing from the Community Advisory Committee yesterday. The panel approved their $6.4 billion casino project proposed for Queens near Citi Field stadium.
Three other operators remain in contention. Resorts World plans another Queens casino resort. MGM Resorts targets Yonkers. Bally’s wants to build in the Bronx.
Committee member Donovan Richards called it “a home run for Citi Field and for Queens.” The panel reviewed eight initial proposals. But only four survived the cuts.
Why This Approval Matters for License Competition
New York’s Gaming Commission will award three casino licenses before 2025 ends. That deadline creates urgency.
Resorts World and MGM start with clear advantages. Both already operate casino-like properties with video lottery terminals in their proposed locations. Existing operations typically score better with regulators. They’re not building from zero.
The committee’s rejection pattern reveals what fails. Caesars Entertainment and SL Green’s Times Square project got just two of four required votes on September 17. Soloviev Group’s Manhattan Freedom Plaza proposal didn’t make it either. Geography matters too. The committee advanced two Queens proposals, one Yonkers site, and one Bronx location. Manhattan projects struggled.
What Happened During the Selection Process
Hard Rock’s Willets Point project moved forward despite past opposition. State Senator Jessica Ramos spoke against it in 2024. The committee backed it anyway.
The $6.4 billion price tag makes it one of the region’s largest casino proposals. The site sits right next to the Mets stadium in the Willets Point neighborhood.
Soloviev Group CEO Michael Hershman issued a statement after his company’s September 22 rejection. He noted “overwhelming support” from community groups and labor partners. The project would’ve been “transformative,” he said. The committee saw things differently. The proposal was originally developed with Mohegan as a partner.
How Front-Runners Gained Their Edge
The VLT factor changes everything. Resorts World and MGM already run gaming operations at their proposed sites. That operational history gives them credibility other bidders can’t match. Regulators see functioning businesses, not just PowerPoint decks.
Hard Rock’s unanimous approval signals community backing matters. The committee clearly valued local support over political resistance from individual legislators.
The Gaming Facility Location Board handles the next review stage. All four remaining proposals now compete there for the final three licenses. That means at least one current front-runner won’t make the cut.
