Mets’ Owner’s Casino License Bid Holds the Soccer Stadium Development Project

As Front Office Sports reports, Steve Cohen, the owner of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, will not allow the neighboring New York City FC (NYCFC) of Major League Soccer to use the Mets parking lot free of charge. Cohen is reportedly negotiating a casino development project in the area of the City Field Stadium located in Queens, New York City.

Stadiums Locations:

Citi Field is a baseball stadium located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. It opened in 2009 and is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. The Yankee Stadium is a baseball and soccer stadium and the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. The distance between the two stadiums is around 7 miles.

New Development to Use Mets Parking Lot:

The NYCFC has already entered negotiations for a new, 25,000-seat stadium and housing development to become independent from the Yankees as far as their respective game schedules are concerned. The new stadium is supposed to be located in the neighborhood of the Mets’ Citi Field Stadium, but the MLS team’s plans have reportedly been affected by the Cohen’s development plans for the same area.

As the source reports, the soccer club wants to use the parking lot of the Citi Field for its home games although it is not required to offer parking for the visitors. In any case, the club needs Mets’ approval for the move. At the same time, Cohen is reportedly looking for a location near the Citi Field to build a casino and uses the potential approval for the parking lot deal to condition the terms with the NFCYC to his advantage.

Mets’ Conditioning Holds the Project:

The NYCFC project for a new stadium has reportedly been designed to render multiple community benefits in addition to entertainment facility. According to the project, the new stadium development to be located close to the Mets’ Citi Field will also include the construction of  2,500 units of affordable housing, as well as a 650-seat school. The project would reportedly transform the location into an entertainment and residential area providing the conditions for inclusion and construction of various associated content and facilities.

According to Front Office Sports, the soccer stadium would be built in the project’s second stage as the residential area may be expected to be built in stage one. The stadium would be constructed simultaneously with a 350-room hotel in the second stage of the project that could commence by the end of 2024 to be completed in time for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Major League Soccer season.

Cohen Seeks Casino License:

But the plans to use the the parking lot of the Mets’ stadium for home games depend on the Major League Baseball’s owner who keeps the parking lot agreement in hand while looking for the best development deal for his casino facility in the area around the Citi Field. With the NYCFC put on hold, Cohen takes his time to partner with Seminole Hard Rock on a bid for a New York City casino license, up against Las Vegas Sands, Resorts World, Related Cos., and Wynn Resorts.