Mets Owner’s $8 Billion Bet May Still Pay Off: Could NYC Lawmaker Fold Her Hand?
Sen. Jessica Ramos Admits She May Be Unable to Stop Cohen’s Casino Project
Ramos Shows a Weak Hand
Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos, who’s been loud and clear about her opposition to rezoning the 50-acre parking lots of Citi Field for commercial use, acknowledged this weekend that she may be unable to stop this.
In an interview with the New York Post, published Sunday, Ramos said, “I don’t know if I have the power to block that legislation.”
Her comments made casino news as she opened the door for Mets owner Steve Cohen and his $8 billion project. Cohen needs Albany to pass a parkland-alienation bill before his betting casino and entertainment district can even be considered by the state Gaming Commission for one of the three licenses awarded later this year.
Ramos, who’s launching a mayoral bid, is still against the project, citing district surveys that show 75% opposition.
I take a lot of pride in being born and raised in Queens. Becoming NYC’s next Mayor is personal to me. I grew up here. My kids are growing up here. My friends, neighbors, and loved ones call NYC home, and I want to see my city thrive. I’m fighting for our city. I’m fighting for… pic.twitter.com/jLD4Fse4bl
— Jessica Ramos (@jessicaramosqns) April 21, 2025
Her comments come just weeks after Queens colleague Sen. John Liu filed the gaming regulation she refused to submit in 2023-2024. If the measure passes both houses, Cohen and partner Hard Rock International can submit a formal application by June 27.
Inside Metropolitan Park’s $8 Billion Pot
Cohen and partner Hard Rock International will turn the asphalt sea next to Citi Field into a cash casino resort:
- $8 billion total investment funded by private capital.
- A casino plus 2 300-room hotel, a 6,000-seat hall, and a “Taste of Queens” food market.
- Twenty-five acres of new parkland and five acres of athletic fields replace the current lots.
- $480 million to modernize the aging Mets-Willets Point subway station.
Developers say gambling revenue is the only engine that makes the upgrades for the city possible. “It’s not economically feasible without a casino,” Cohen told New York Magazine months ago.
Projections show it could create 23,000 union jobs and $500 million in annual tax revenue. But Ramos calls it a bad beat for families who “desperately need green space.”
A look at the model for Steve Cohen’s $8 billion casino and entertainment complex ‘Metropolitan Park’:pic.twitter.com/hXPxC2vjNJ
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 25, 2025
How the Legislative Deck Is Stacked
Albany usually defers to the local senator on land issues, but Liu’s move means Ramos may have to whip votes rather than just hold the mic. The Parkland bill must:
- Clear Senate and Assembly committees.
- Survive a floor vote—likely needing a “super-majority” because it takes parkland.
- Get signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul; she’s championed downstate casinos as a post-COVID revenue play.
If it passes, a six-member Community Advisory Committee (two appointees each from the governor, mayor, and local officials) must still approve the project by a two-thirds margin before the Gaming Facility Location Board even scores the bid.
Other Bidders
Industry trackers expect two of the three licenses to go to the existing racinos: Resorts World NYC in Queens and MGM’s Empire City in Yonkers.
That leaves one golden ticket for 11 newcomers. Manhattan’s Wynn-Hudson Yards just got community-board rejected, Times Square’s Caesars-SL Green is getting pushback from Broadwa,y and Brooklyn’s Coney Island bid is fighting historic-district headwinds.
That narrows it to Cohen’s Queens monster and Bally’s $1.5 billion Ferry Point in the Bronx, where parkland hurdles are the same as Citi Field’s. Bally’s just offered locals a 10% equity stake.
The Gaming Facility Location Board scores proposals on economic impact, community approval, and speed to market. This criterion favors projects with zoning in hand.
Who’s the Favorite?
Cohen has now got a 41-2 City Council vote, five community board approvals, union endorsements, and Liu’s legislative lifeline. Not bad for someone who spent millions on lobbying.
For casino-watchers, the takeaway is clear: the Mets owner’s big bet is alive, and Ramos’ stack is thinning.
Whether the Metropolitan Park project is a royal flush or bust on the river depends on Albany’s vote count. In a state that still doesn’t have a local online casino market, the fight for these licenses is all the attention.
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