Citi Field casino plan gets boost as NY senator backs Flushing Skypark

A New York State Senator has spoken out about the plan that could see Mets owner Steve Cohen create a massive $8 billion project involving a casino being built next to Citi Field.

Senator John Liu is reported by Gothamist to have said on Sunday (March 30) that he’d introduce state Senate legislation to reclassify the 50 acres of asphalt parking lots around the Mets ballpark as commercial property instead of parkland.

If this was to go ahead, this would then provide the opportunity for the casino plan to potentially take place.

“I understand that Flushing Skypark will not be easy to achieve, but if anyone can do it, it would be the Metropolitan Park team,” Liu said at a press conference according to the publisher.

The Flushing Skypark would be a High Line-inspired zone that would connect downtown Flushing and Willets Point.

Flushing Skypark will be a game changer. I’m encouraged by Steve Cohen and Hard Rock’s commitment to making it happen or paying $100M to fix up Flushing Meadows Corona Park it they can’t. In that spirit, I’ll introduce legislation to make these benefits possible. pic.twitter.com/lWQTyNIhd3

— John C. Liu (@LiuNewYork) March 30, 2025

Senator John Liu also took to social media to share his thoughts and described Flushing Skypark as being ‘a game changer.’

Steve Cohen and Hard Rock Entertainment have put together a proposal to turn an empty parking lot into an $8 billion privately funded project named Metropolitan Park.

The plan is to have 25 acres of new public park space, along with a Queens Food Hall, a Hard Rock Hotel and a casino with bars, restaurants and a sportsbook.

The renderings of what it could look like were officially unveiled back in September of 2024, with the design and layout said to have been created after three years of community engagement had taken place.

Over 23,000 competitive-paying union jobs would become available if the plan was to go ahead.

On the Metropolitan Park website, the team behind the proposal have shared more about the aim: “We’re partnering with the local community to design a project that’s responsive to the needs of our surrounding neighborhoods. Queens is clearly on the rise.”

Featured Image: Credit to Metropolitan Park//Shared on X via John C. Liu

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