May. 27, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The New York State Senate has voted overwhelmingly in favor of legislation that would allow Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International to transform 50 acres of Citi Field parking lot into Metropolitan Park, an $8 billion entertainment complex anchored by a casino. On Tuesday, lawmakers voted…
May. 2, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Hard Rock International Chairman and CEO Jim Allen addressed hundreds of Queens-based vendors and small business owners Thursday morning at the Queens Theatre, outlining how they could play a key role in shaping the proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino and entertainment complex near Citi Field—if the project…
Apr. 3, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The team behind the proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino project has announced a new partnership aiming to create hundreds of long-term affordable housing in Corona. Queens Future, an LLC formed as part of Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International’s push for the Metropolitan Park casino…
Apr. 2, 2025 By Shane O’Brien A coalition of community groups in Elmhurst, Flushing, Jackson Heights and Corona has criticized State Sen. John Liu for announcing his plans to introduce a parkland alienation bill in the State Senate that brings the $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino project closer to reality. Liu announced Sunday that…
Mar. 31, 2025 By Barbara Russo-Lennon and QNS News Team New York State Senator John Liu hailed an ambitious park project near Citi Field as a “home run” for Queens on Sunday, announcing plans to introduce legislation that would clear the way for the Metropolitan Park casino development. The proposed project would transform the…
Mar. 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The City Council has voted overwhelmingly in favor of modifications to zoning regulations for the planned $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino development adjacent to Citi Field in Flushing. The City Council voted 41-2 in favor of the proposal, a planned development by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock…
Dec. 16, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has recommended conditional approval of the planned $8 billion Metropolitan Park development adjacent to Citi Field, citing the proposal’s potential positive impact on the local community. Richards announced his conditional approval of the Metropolitan Park proposal Monday, stating that casinos do not often…
Nov. 25, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens Community Board 3 voted overwhelmingly to approve modifications to zoning regulations for the planned $8 billion Metropolitan Park development at a fiery monthly meeting at Queens Public Library (QPL) Langston Hughes Thursday night. More than 100 people crowded into the auditorium at QPL Langston Hughes at 100-01…
Nov. 5, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens Together, a non-profit dedicated to fighting food insecurity in the borough, has launched a new Neighbor to Neighbor program aiming to provide aid to specific families during times of crisis. The non-profit, which was founded by Jonathan Forgash during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide culturally appropriate meals…
Aug. 6, 2024 By Ethan Marshall The New York Mets announced that the team will celebrate the diversity, creativity, and culture of the “World’s Borough” at Citi Field during games against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and Wednesday, Aug. 14. Dubbed “A Celebration of Queens Culture,” the occasion is meant to pay…