Wealthy financier and New York Mets proprietor, Steve Cohen, is joining forces with Hard Rock International to construct a colossal gaming and entertainment venue adjacent to Citi Field in Queens. The endeavor, christened “The Metropole”, boasts a substantial $8 billion budget and is anticipated to revolutionize the neighborhood.
Cohen, whose fortune is valued at an impressive $13.9 billion, competed against other prominent figures for one of New York State’s sought-after comprehensive casino permits. The triumphant collaboration with Hard Rock guarantees an expansive leisure destination encompassing 50 acres.
Envision this: a 20-acre public green space conceived by the creators of the High Line, cutting-edge athletic amenities, a modernized transportation center, and a specialized “Queens Culinary Market”. Moreover, the initiative is projected to generate a remarkable 15,000 employment opportunities, providing a much-needed stimulus to the regional economy.
Nevertheless, the path ahead is not without obstacles. Constructing on government-owned recreational land necessitates overcoming legal complexities, including securing approval from legislators for a property transfer.
Despite legislation being presented in the previous legislative assembly to establish a gaming establishment in Queens, New York, the endeavor encounters a protracted path forward. Even if it secures a majority vote, the initiative would necessitate endorsement from a designated committee composed of local government representatives. Introducing an additional stratum of intricacy, the state’s Gaming Establishment Location Board would subsequently determine the allocation of the three existing permits.
Notwithstanding the obstacles, an analysis conducted by Spectrum Gaming postulates that a Queens gaming venue could yield $1.9 billion in yearly earnings by 2025.
While New York’s expansion has garnered significant attention, Hard Rock International, a prospective participant in the Queens casino landscape, is undertaking initiatives on a global scale. They recently proclaimed intentions for a Hard Rock Hotel in Portugal’s Algarve area, an undertaking anticipated to elevate tourism to the picturesque Praia da Rocha. Furthermore, construction is progressing on Canada’s inaugural Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, projected to debut in the spring of 2025.
Hard Rock is also generating a stir in the digital realm. Their Hard Rock Bet platform in New Jersey provides a consolidated gaming encounter for online users and patrons of their Atlantic City establishment.