New York Mets owner Steve Cohen flipped his hole cards over Tuesday, detailing his bid to bring a casino to Queens.

Calling it “Metropolitan Park” in honor of his team’s official name, the $8 billion plan calls for a casino, hotel, and music venue, according to the New York Post. Cohen is partnering with Hard Rock International on the project, which would also feature 20 acres of green space and access to Flushing Bay.

“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” Cohen told the Post. “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy but can be truly proud of.” 

Cohen’s plan is one of at least 11 expected bids for New York‘s three downstate casino licenses. While it might be premature to call any of the proposals longshots, it’s been a long-held belief that two of the licenses would go to the existing racetracks in the area — one in Yonkers, which is under the corporate umbrella of MGM, and another at Aqueduct, which is also in Queens and operated by the Genting Group. 

Aqueduct, where horse racing will eventually give way to a mixed-use development, is a seven-mile drive from Cohen’s proposed site. The site is currently designated as parkland, which means Cohen would have to get the state legislature to pass a law and Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign it in order to build on the property. Cohen also needs the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) to grant him the license in the first place.

Cohen’s plan carries a projection that it would generate $130 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years and create 10,000 jobs, according to the Post.

Hurry up and wait

It’s been a busy few months in the slow-moving process for the NYSGC to award the trio of licenses.

The Soloviev Group, which wants to build a hotel-casino complex near the United Nations, promised over 500 affordable housing units should it get a license. The group also announced plans at the site for a massive light show art installation, which is slated to open in weeks.

Bally’s, which wants to build on and around a golf course formerly operated by the Trump Organization in the Bronx, launched a bus service for local residents.

Meanwhile, would-be bidders are still waiting for the NYSGC to answer a second set of questions concerning the casino licenses. No date has been announced for when those questions will be answered.

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