Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen's Metropolitan Park casino project received full approval from the New York State Gaming Commission on December 15, 2025, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for the $8.1 billion development adjacent to Citi Field in Queens.
- • The Hard Rock casino will feature 286,208 square feet of gaming space with 5,000 slot machines, 375 live dealer tables, 30 poker tables, and 18,381 square feet of sportsbook betting facilities, alongside 1,000 hotel rooms, a 5,650-seat theater venue, and 18 food and beverage outlets.
- • Metropolitan Park must pay a $500 million gaming license fee; construction is scheduled to begin in January 2026 with a targeted opening in June 2030.
- • The project is projected to generate 17,100 direct construction jobs, approximately 6,000 permanent jobs, and 2,000 part-time positions for the local community.
- • Bally's Bronx and Resorts World New York City also received full casino licenses as part of New York's downstate gaming expansion, completing the state's three-license allocation.
Summary
The New York State Gaming Commission officially approved the gaming license for Steve Cohen's Metropolitan Park casino project on December 15, 2025, marking the completion of regulatory approval for the $8.1 billion development. The project, operated in partnership with Hard Rock International, had previously received a recommendation from the Gaming Facility Location Board on December 1 and has now cleared all required licensing hurdles. As a condition of licensure, Metropolitan Park is required to pay a $500 million gaming license fee.
The Hard Rock casino will serve as the centerpiece of Metropolitan Park, a mixed-use development adjacent to Citi Field in Queens. The gaming component encompasses 286,208 square feet of space featuring 5,000 slot machines, 375 live dealer tables, 30 poker tables, and 18,381 square feet dedicated to sportsbook betting and bars. Beyond gaming, the facility will include a Hard Rock Live theater with 5,650 seats, 1,000 hotel rooms (393 suites), 18 food and beverage venues, a spa and fitness center totaling 38,459 square feet, and a convention and meeting space spanning 97,564 square feet. The development will also feature a Taste of Queens Food Hall with 20 local vendors, retail space of approximately 20,000 square feet, and three multi-story parking garages that will increase local parking capacity from 7,750 to 13,750 spaces.
Construction is scheduled to commence in January 2026, with a targeted opening date of June 2030. The project is expected to generate significant employment, including 17,100 direct construction jobs during the development phase and approximately 6,000 permanent positions plus 2,000 part-time jobs upon opening. Beyond Metropolitan Park, the New York State Gaming Commission also issued full casino licenses to Bally's Bronx and Resorts World New York City in December 2025, completing the state's authorized allocation of three downstate casino licenses.
The Hard Rock casino will serve as the centerpiece of Metropolitan Park, a mixed-use development adjacent to Citi Field in Queens. The gaming component encompasses 286,208 square feet of space featuring 5,000 slot machines, 375 live dealer tables, 30 poker tables, and 18,381 square feet dedicated to sportsbook betting and bars. Beyond gaming, the facility will include a Hard Rock Live theater with 5,650 seats, 1,000 hotel rooms (393 suites), 18 food and beverage venues, a spa and fitness center totaling 38,459 square feet, and a convention and meeting space spanning 97,564 square feet. The development will also feature a Taste of Queens Food Hall with 20 local vendors, retail space of approximately 20,000 square feet, and three multi-story parking garages that will increase local parking capacity from 7,750 to 13,750 spaces.
Construction is scheduled to commence in January 2026, with a targeted opening date of June 2030. The project is expected to generate significant employment, including 17,100 direct construction jobs during the development phase and approximately 6,000 permanent positions plus 2,000 part-time jobs upon opening. Beyond Metropolitan Park, the New York State Gaming Commission also issued full casino licenses to Bally's Bronx and Resorts World New York City in December 2025, completing the state's authorized allocation of three downstate casino licenses.
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