Posted on: September 25, 2023, 08:21h.
Last updated on: September 25, 2023, 08:23h.
The Soloviev Group Plans Integrated Casino Resort Bid on Manhattan’s East Side
The Soloviev Group, led by billionaire Stefan Soloviev, plans to submit a bid for an integrated casino resort on Manhattan’s East Side. The proposed site is located near the United Nations on approximately six acres of undeveloped land. As part of the project, the group will first create a public art installation called the “Field of Light at Freedom Plaza.”
Stefan Soloviev is the son of the late Sheldon Solow, a billionaire with a net worth of over $4 billion. Soloviev has decided to use the ancestral spelling of his family name for his business ventures.
Solowiev’s father purchased the undeveloped land between 38th and 41st streets east of First Avenue in 2000 for $600 million from ConEd. The purchase also included three additional acres, which have already been sold and developed.
The Soloviev Group has partnered with Mohegan, the gaming and hospitality unit of the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut. Together, they plan to develop Freedom Plaza, a comprehensive entertainment complex that includes a casino, a 1,000-room hotel, two residential towers, and a Ferris wheel overlooking the East River.
The Soloviev Group is one of several companies expected to submit proposals for the three downstate New York gaming concessions. Other notable contenders include Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, Genting Group, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Hard Rock International.
Light Show to Enhance Casino Bid
In an effort to showcase their commitment to the community, New York casino hopefuls are seeking to demonstrate how they can benefit the areas where they would operate. One example is a group in Coney Island that funded new basketball uniforms and T-shirts for local youth hoops players. Another is Sands, which hosted a youth soccer clinic with the participation of soccer stars David Beckham and Carli Lloyd.
Similarly, The Soloviev Group aims to contribute to the improvement of the East Side along FDR Drive. As part of their casino application review process, the group has enlisted internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro to design the “Field of Light at Freedom Plaza.” The art installation, consisting of approximately 17,000 low-light, fiber-optic stemmed spheres, will create a captivating landscape complemented by the city’s iconic skyline and the East River waterfront.
The Field of Light at Freedom Plaza will be open to the public throughout most of 2024, presenting opportunities for community engagement and educational programming. The project, estimated to cost $1.5 million, is funded by The Soloviev Foundation.
Field of Light at Freedom Plaza stands for boundless imagination and the freedom to dream. It is my hope that it warms hearts and inspires both young and old to take from it and create something of their own to pass on to others,” Munro said in a release.
Bruce Munro has previous experience in New York City, having worked at the Guggenheim Museum. In 2010, he was among a select group of artists invited to showcase their unique installations in the historic rotunda designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Art Details
The Field of Light at Freedom Plaza will feature an enchanting display of approximately 17,000 low-light, fiber-optic stemmed spheres. This artistic landscape will be framed by the city’s iconic skyline and the picturesque East River waterfront.
The public art installation is scheduled to open in the winter season and will remain in place for 12 months. The Soloviev Foundation is proud to finance this initiative, demonstrating their dedication to the arts and the community.