Hard Rock Casino Metropolitan Park - 2025 News Archive
Archived news items originally published in 2025.
This page contains archived news updates for Hard Rock Casino Metropolitan Park from 2025. These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part of the 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articles in the main News section.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park | Construction Schedule
December 27, 2025
Construction of the newly approved Hard Rock Metropolitan Park is expected to start as soon as January, according to a document in the Hard Rock casino application approved by the New York State Gaming Commission.
The document, which is titled EvalEcon5.HardRock.ConstructionTimeline, says Hard Rock will immediately seek approvals from the New York City Department of Buildings to begin site preparation, pile installation, and underground utilities installation in January.
The approval of the casino license by the gaming commission on December 15, 2025 gave the Hard Rock's design and construction partners the green light to finalize their financing agreements, accept construction bids, and begin early site preparation.
Construction Begins Early 2026 Site work at Citi Field's parking lots will begin immediately when the permits and financing are finalized in early 2026.
Construction 2026 - 2027 Agency approvals and design work will be completed. Site work will include clearing, grading, utility relocation and test piles. On March 1, 2026 construction will bein on realignment of Shea to Roosevelt. Construction is planned to start April 1, 2026 on the Hard Rock casino comples ("Intrated Resort"), the Taste of Queens food mall, the northfield garage and the southfield garage.
Construction 2028-2030 Construction will be scheduled in multiple phases. The Southfield garage will be completed Oct. 14, 2027, and the northfield garage will be cvompleted March 31, 2028. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Live! concert center, Taste of Queens, and the realignment of Shea to Roosevelt will all be completed by June 30, 2030. Other supporting projects like the MTA construction and the public realm construction will also be completed by June 30, 2030.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park awarded NYC casino license
December 19, 2025
The New York State Gaming Commission has granted a gaming license to the proposed $8.1 billion Hard Rock Metropolitan Park to be built on 50 acres around Citi Field in Queens. The project is a partnership between Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets.
The partners issued a press release yesterday through PR Newswire, which included the following quotes:
"Since the day I bought the team, the community and Mets fans have made it clear to me that we can and should do better with the area around the ballpark. Now, we are going to be able to deliver the sports and entertainment district that our fans have been asking for."
- Steve Cohen, Owner of the New York Mets
"Metropolitan Park will be a global destination for entertainment, food, and culture that reflects the energy and diversity of the World's Borough. The Commission's decision confirms the positive impact this project will have on New York City, the state, and the region, and we're excited to build on our long record of delivering world-class entertainment experiences here in Queens."
- Jim Allen, Chairman Hard Rock International
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park will include a Hard Rock Hotel with a casino, sportsbook, restaurants, bars, a Hard Rock Live music venue, meeting and event space, a Taste of Queens Food Hall, and 25 acres of new public park space with athletic fields and playgrounds.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park Approved for Casino License
December 1, 2025
Hard Rock Casino Metropolitan Park was approved this morning by the Gaming Facility Location Board. The board is under the New York State Gaming Commission, which will now meet in a few days to ratify the decision and to issue a casino license by Dec. 31st.
The $8 billion casino complex is a partnership between Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, and Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminal Tribe of Florida. Hard Rock International is both an investor in the project and the manager of the casino and hospitality operations.
Hard Rock Casino Metropolitan Park will be built in Queens on 50 acres around Citi Field, which are currently used for stadium parking. The project includes a casino, restaurants, a live concert center, a 1,000-room hotel, conference center, retail, and a 25-acre public park.
Three Downstate New York Casinos Approved Today In addition to approving Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, the Gaming Facility Location Board approved two other casinos: Bally's Bronx and Resorts World New York City.
Bally's Bronx will invest $4 billion in the Bronx to build a casino with a 500,000 sq-ft of gaming floor, 5,000 slott machines and 375 table games, a 23-story hotel with 1,000 rooms, a convention and event center, and 100,000 sq-ft of restaurants, bars and retail shop.
Resorts World will invest $3-4 billion to expand the Aqueduct Racetrack with a full casino, upgraded gaming floor, more VLT machines, a new hotel tower, and convention facilities.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park decision is Monday Dec 1
November 28, 2025
The Gaming Facility Location Board will vote Monday Dec. 1 on whether the Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock International, in partnership with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, should receive a state gaming license. If approved, the decision must be ratified by the Gaming Commission and the license issued by Dec. 31st.
Hard Rock is one of three finalists for one of three available casino licenses. Not all three licenses may be approved. The other two candidates are Bally's in the Bronx and Resorts World in Queens.
Monday is the deadline for the Gaming Facility Location Board to evaluate each of the three finalist and make its recommendations to the New York State Gaming Commission.
Seminole Tribe is a finalist for a New York City casino license
October 17, 2025
The Seminole Tribe of Florida, through its ownership of Hard Rock International, is contending for one of three new Downstate New York casino licenses to be issued at the end of this year. The tribe's Hard Rock has partnered with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen to apply for a license to build an $8 billion casino and entertainment complex next to Citi Field in Queens to be named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park.
Casino Selection Process The State of New York has authorized three new casino licenses to be issued in Downstate New York by Dec. 31, 2025. Eight applicants submitted proposals by the June 27, 2025 deadline. The selection process then proceeded with reviews and votes by local Community Advisory Committees (CAC). That deadline for completion was Sept. 30, 2025. Four applicants were rejected by the CACs. Four were approved and forwarded to Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB), a panel under the New York State Gaming Commission. The GFLB will evaluate each finalist and make recommendations to the gaming commission before the deadline of Dec. 1. 2025.
Casino Finalists In a stunning move, one of the four finalists, MGM Resorts, withdrew its application shortly afterwards on Oct. 14th.
Bally's Bronx Ferry Point Park Developer: Bally's Corporation
The $4 billion Bally's Bronx will feature a casino with a 500,000 sq-ft of gaming floor, 5,000 slott machines and 375 table games, a 23-story hotel with 1,000 rooms, a convention and event center, and 100,000 sq-ft of restaurants, bars and retail shops.
Hard Rock Casino Metropolitan Park Willets Point, Queens Developer: Steve Cohen + Hard Rock International
The $8 billion Hard Rock will be a destination casino resort adjacent to Citi Field and feature a casino, hotel, live music venue, restaurants, and retail shops.
Resorts World NYC Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens Developer: Genting Group
The $3-4 billion Resorts World New York City will be an expansion of the Aqueduct Racetrack and feature a full casino with an upgraded gaming floor and more VLT machines. There will also be a new hotel tower and convention facilities.
Final Selection The New York State Gaming Commission will make a final decision on whether to license any or all of the final three casino applicants before a deadline of Dec. 31, 2025.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park Approved Unanimously by Committee
September 30, 2025
The $8 billion Hard Rock proposal at Metropolitan Park was approved unanimously today by the community advisory committee. The bid will now be forwarded to the NY Gaming Commission along with three other contending bids for review and selection for one of the three new casino licenses allocated to downstate New York.
[ No Ads ]
Casino proposal at Citi Field is 4th to advance to state consideration - Courtesy of Eyewitness News ABC7NY, Sep 30, 2025. Available from YouTube
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park is a partnership between Steve Cohen, owner of the New York Mets, and Hard Rock Internation, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Hard Rock will brand and manage the property.
Disclaimer: All images are copyright to their respective owners and are used by 500 Nations for informational purposes only.
500 Nations is an independent directory and information service free of any gaming operator's control and not affiliated with any casino.
Warning: You must ensure you meet all age and other regulatory requirements before entering a casino or placing a wager.
There are hundreds of jurisdictions in the world with Internet access and hundreds of different games and gambling opportunities available on the Internet.
Do not assume that Internet gaming sites are in compliance with the rules and regulations of every jurisdiction from which they accept players.
YOU are responsible for determining if it is legal for YOU to play any particular game or place any particular wager under the laws of the jurisdiction where you are located.
$3,000 Casino Welcome Bonus!
[ No Ads ]
