Mets owner Steve Cohen seeks Queens input while eyeing casino near Citi Field
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Mets owner Steve Cohen wants input from locals in Queens about the future of the property around Citi Field as he eyes submitting a bid to open a casino near the stadium.
Cohen announced Monday he’ll be hosting a Jan. 7 public “visioning session” at Citi Field in Flushing to discuss ideas to “re-imagine space” around the ballpark.
“For months, we have been listening to the local community who keeps telling us there is more they want from the area. Everyone agrees that the status quo isn’t acceptable,” Cohen said in a statement released Monday.
“We are committed to putting forward a vision for the area that will create a shared space that people not only want to come to and enjoy, but can be proud of.”
The billionaire financier said he takes his civic responsibility seriously and is committed to creating a space where visitors and fans can have access to the waterfront, enjoy open space, listen to live music and have plenty of entertainment options to eat and drink.
But the press release conspicuously makes no mention of a much-speculated casino bid.
It says the area around Citi Field for too long has been “50 acres of vacant asphalt and wasted opportunity” that divides neighborhoods and cuts off access to the waterfront.
Things are looking up. Mayor Eric Adams also recently announced a planned 25,000-seat soccer stadium for the NYCFC team and a new housing development for Willets Point.
New York State next year will consider issuing three new casino licenses for the downstate region. Two could go to the existing slot “racino” slot parlors — Genting Resorts World at Aqueduct and MGM-Empire City at Yonkers — to expand and offer card table games.
Cohen is one of the players considering a license, along with the Steve Ross-Related Companies/Wynn Resorts expected bid for Hudson Yards; landlord SL Green/Caesars Entertainment proposed casino for Times Square and a consortium’s bid for a casino in Coney Island, whose partners include Legends, the entertainment firm partly owned by the Yankees and Thor Equities, Saratoga Casino Holdings and Chicksaw Nation.