New York Mets Release Renderings Of Casino Stadium Project

The process for granting a casino license in New York City may still be months away, but residents continue getting a look at what potential bidders have planned for the Big Apple. That now includes New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s proposal for a new development that includes a casino outside Citi Field in Queens.

Cohen, who is partnering with Hard Rock Entertainment on the project, released further details on the plan along with artist rendering last week. Along with a casino, plans call for parks, restaurants, and shopping areas as part of the development.

Details On The Project

Renderings show considerable green space, and developers envision a complete entertainment and pedestrian destination located in the area surrounding the stadium, to be known as Metropolitan Park. Significant upgrades to the area and additional amenities are also planned.

“The team behind Metropolitan Park has proposed building 20 acres of new public parks and five acres of new community athletic fields, accessibility upgrades at the Mets-Willets Point 7 train stop, improved roadways and cycling paths, and a $163 million ‘community impact fund’ that would provide grants to local Queens nonprofits,” AM New York reports.

Additionally, plans call for a new live music venue and a “Taste of Queens” food hall. Cohen projects the $8 billion project would create 23,000 jobs. The project would still need a key zoning change for construction and a key state senator recently expressed her opposition to the plan.

The state is currently considering three downstate full-scale casino licenses with one for New York City. An additional two licenses are expected to go to gaming facilities already in place. Developers behind a potential $12 billion Wynn casino resort also recently released plans as well.

Casino Play Leads To MLB Demotion

In other baseball and casino-related news, reports surfaced over the weekend that Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was sent to minors for the rest of the season after a night of gambling at a Chicago-area casino before a game.

The team was set to play at Wrigley Field Friday afternoon and Abrams allegedly was at the casino up until five hours before the game.

Abrams was the team’s only player in this year’s all-star game, but has struggled in the second half of the season. The demotion is expected to cost Abrams about $30,000, according to reports. It’s in unknown if he won or lost while he was in the casino, however.

*Renderings by Citi Field – SHoP Architects