After years of lobbying, millions in spending, and heated community debate, Steve Cohen’s ambitious casino proposal for the area around Citi Field has officially cleared a crucial hurdle. On Tuesday, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park project received unanimous approval from a local advisory committee, ensuring its place in the final round of New York State’s casino licensing process.

The $8 billion plan, spearheaded by Cohen — billionaire owner of the New York Mets — would transform 78 acres of Citi Field’s parking lots in Willets Point into a sprawling entertainment and gambling complex. It is now one of four bids still competing for up to three highly coveted downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded by the end of this year.

A Unanimous Vote in Queens

The six-member community advisory committee voted 6-0 in favor of the project, despite long-standing opposition from some local officials and residents. Queens Borough President Donovan J. Richards Jr., who sits on the committee, was among its most enthusiastic supporters.

“While the Mets may not make the playoffs, we can consider this a home run for Citi Field and for Queens,” Richards said following the vote, according to The New York Times. He also declared, “We are the heartbeat of the city now. Not Manhattan, not Brooklyn, not any other borough.”

Even George Dixon, appointed to the committee by State Senator Jessica Ramos — a vocal critic of the plan for over a year — voted in favor without offering an explanation. Ramos has consistently opposed the project, citing community concerns, but her appointee’s “yes” vote underscored the strength of support within the committee itself.

What the Casino Project Promises

If completed, Metropolitan Park would feature nearly 300,000 square feet of gaming space, including 5,000 slot machines and 375 table games. Plans also call for a luxury hotel, restaurants, a convention center, an entertainment venue, and a concert hall.

Beyond gambling, Cohen and his development partner Hard Rock International have pledged billions in community investments. Their commitments include $1.75 billion in local improvements and 25 acres of new parkland. Earlier this year, Cohen’s group also announced a plan to build 450 income-restricted housing units in Corona, contingent on the project receiving a casino license.

“The Community Advisory Committee’s unanimous approval underscores the deep and broad community support behind Metropolitan Park,” said Karl Rickett, spokesperson for the project. “We are grateful for the opportunity to move forward in this process and be one step closer to making Metropolitan Park’s community-first vision a reality.”

Competition Narrows to Four Finalists

Cohen’s proposal now advances alongside three other bids: Bally’s planned $4 billion resort at Ferry Point in the Bronx, Resorts World near JFK Airport in Queens, and MGM Empire City in Yonkers. The latter two are currently racinos — facilities that offer video lottery terminals but no table games — and are considered front-runners given their existing infrastructure.

The state’s licensing process began with eight proposals, but four were eliminated earlier this month after failing to secure local support. Manhattan bids — Caesars Palace Times Square, the Avenir on the Far West Side, and Freedom Plaza near the United Nations — were all rejected, as was The Coney, a proposed $3.4 billion complex in Coney Island. Opposition in those neighborhoods focused largely on concerns about congestion, crime, and loss of public space.

What Comes Next

The four surviving projects will next be reviewed by the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board, which is tasked with recommending up to three projects to the New York State Gaming Commission. The board faces a December 1 deadline to finalize its recommendations, and the Gaming Commission must issue final decisions by December 31.

If approved, Cohen’s Metropolitan Park would join other major attractions in the area — Citi Field, the U.S. Open tennis center, and the soon-to-be-built New York City Football Club stadium — in reshaping Queens into a destination hub. For local supporters like Kew Gardens Hills resident Alan Sherman, the decision signals momentum. “It’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow and we need more development in Queens,” he said.

For Cohen, the approval represents the latest win in a high-stakes game with billions on the line. While the Mets’ season may have fallen short, his casino gamble has advanced to the final inning.