Yankees and Mets owners competing for coveted NYC casino license

Homeowners for the Yankees and Mets at the moment are competing for a metropolis on line casino license.
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Homeowners of the Yankees and Mets are competing in a brand new sort of subway sequence.

However this one isn’t over bragging rights — the winner may wind up with one of many metropolis’s coveted on line casino licenses.

Legends, a agency partly owned and co-founded by the Yankees, is a part of a consortium proposing a on line casino in Brooklyn’s well-known Coney Island, together with developer Thor Equities, Saratoga On line casino Holdings and The Chickasaw Nation.

The Yankees personal about 25% of Legends, a supply stated. One other quarter is owned by Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones.

Legends’ different ventures contains working 1 World Commerce Observatory, the Circle Line, the Intrepid Museum and Main League Baseball shops.

The Bronx Bombers’ leisure group’s curiosity in southern Brooklyn’s Coney Island may increase some eyebrows.

Coney Island is the house of cross-town rival Mets’ minor league workforce the Brooklyn Cyclones, and the borough was dwelling of the fabled Brooklyn Dodgers earlier than the workforce moved to Los Angeles.

Legends, partly owned by the Yankees, is vying for one of many unique licenses.

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In the meantime, Mets proprietor Steve Cohen shouldn't be standing idly by.

He has for months been angling to safe one of many three downstate industrial on line casino licenses to be awarded subsequent to Citi Subject. He believes a plan to open a 25,000 seat soccer stadium in Willets Level helps his causes, sources beforehand informed The Submit.

Cohen has been in discussions with potential on line casino companions,  together with Arduous Rock and Sands Resort and On line casino.

“The Legends persons are concerned within the leisure portion of the proposal, which is being put collectively. I imagine there shall be a proposal and it will likely be a profitable proposal. I feel Coney Island is the very best location within the 5 boroughs of the Metropolis of New York for a on line casino,” stated James Featherstonhaugh, a longtime Albany lobbyist and a principal in Saratoga On line casino, which is a part of the consortium.

Mets proprietor Steve Cohen has been angling for considered one of three industrial on line casino licenses.

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The Yankees declined remark, referring inquiries to Legends Hospitality Group.

Legends president Invoice Rhoda, in a press release launched Tuesday, stated, “Legends is proud to work with Thor Equities and our gaming companions Saratoga On line casino and The Chickasaw Nation to offer our operational and experiential experience to convey the preeminent resort on line casino in New York to Coney Island.”

“This unimaginable resort shall be a world class leisure vacation spot, with gaming, quite a lot of eating places and leisure for locals and vacationers year-round.”

Thor Equities founder and CEO Joe Sitt stated a on line casino will assist “to reclaim Coney Island’s legacy” and switch it right into a “a vibrant year-round vacation spot for all to get pleasure from.”

Melissa Gliatta, chief working officer for Thor Equities, stated she relished the competitors.

Cohen has been in discussions with potential on line casino companions.

AP

“We’re by no means afraid of a combat. We’re scrappy. We imagine in Coney Island,” stated Gilatta, noting that Thor has lengthy been “dedicated to Brooklyn.”

“Sure, you may put one thing in Manhattan, however does it want one thing else? Coney Island wants this challenge. You actually make a distinction. You get the prospect to inform that Coney Island story.”

Cohen, the Mets’ billionaire proprietor and hedge fund honcho, has donated funds to help Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul and his lobbying workforce has cultivated ties with Queens elected officers to advance his pursuits.

In the meantime, billionaire mogul John Catsimitidis — who has developed rental residences on Ocean Drive in Coney Island, stated the world can be nice for a on line casino, if the town and state get crime below management.

He stated the Coney Island bid – and different bids for casinos – shall be jeopardized if the Albany pols don’t repair the state bail legal guidelines.

“It's worthwhile to be sure that Albany fixes the bail legislation and New York Metropolis is safer and be sure you take the violent repeat clients off the streets. I feel it could possibly be an obstacle to our metropolis total,” Catsimatidis stated.

“I feel the legal guidelines have to ensure New York Metropolis guests and residents are protected.”