Published on: November 17, 2025, 08:24h.
Updated on: November 17, 2025, 08:24h.
- A temporary restraining order has been issued by a New York judge against Steve Cohen’s casino project in Queens
- This injunction could delay the approval of the bid next month
The prospects for billionaire Steve Cohen’s ambitious $8 billion casino resort proposal have faced a significant hurdle after a Manhattan Supreme Court judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt the initiative.
Cohen, a hedge fund mogul and owner of the New York Mets along with Citi Field, aims to transform Willets Point into a hub for sports, hospitality, and entertainment, named Metropolitan Park.
With the city’s backing, Cohen envisions redeveloping the 50-acre parking area adjacent to his Mets stadium into a casino resort featuring 1,000 hotel rooms along with a gaming area housing 5,000 slot machines, 400 table games, and a sportsbook. The proposal also includes 18 dining establishments, a spa, an indoor pool, a fitness center, 20,000 square feet of retail space, nearly 100,000 square feet for conventions, three parking garages, and 25 acres of public green area.
Approval for the project is contingent upon the City of New York, which owns the 50-acre lot that is leased to both Citi Field and the nearby USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (hosting the US Open), endorsing the redevelopment. The USTA asserts that any agreement made with Cohen and his development partner, Hard Rock International, would breach their longstanding lease of over forty years for the parking lot.
The tagline on the Metropolitan Park website reads, “Let’s turn a parking lot into a park.”
Judge Rules in Favor of USTA
In recent court filings, the USTA successfully obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent the City of New York from approving the redevelopment of the 50-acre parking lot by Cohen. Justice Nancy Bannon recognized the validity of the USTA’s claims and directed the city to refrain from finalizing any agreements with Cohen and Hard Rock, collectively known as Queens Futures, until the legal proceedings conclude.
“No agreement should be executed or entered into between the City and Queens Futures or its affiliates regarding Metropolitan Park unless the City can demonstrate that such agreements comply with the USTA’s rights and the City’s obligations under the USTA-City Lease, as determined by the Court pending resolution of this matter,” Bannon remarked.
The USTA organizes the US Open, the premier tennis tournament held in the United States at the Billie Jean King complex, attracting over 1.1 million attendees in the last August and September.
Unclear Parking Provisions
The New York Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to announce its selections for downstate casino licenses by December 1. Metropolitan Park was considered a leading contender prior to the USTA lawsuit.
The USTA has expressed frustration over the city’s disregard for its repeated requests to discuss the casino project and its potential breach of the parking lot lease. City officials have yet to respond to media inquiries. A representative for Metropolitan Park mentioned the developers are currently assessing the lawsuit. Notably, Queens Futures has not been named in the lawsuit.
Although the Metropolitan Park design includes three parking garages, the application documentation does not specify the total number of parking spots. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board did not immediately provide a response to Casino.org’s inquiry regarding the ongoing litigation.