Hard Rock New York Casino Signs City Agreement Despite US Open Tennis Lawsuit
Posted on: November 18, 2025, 07:56h.
Last updated on: November 18, 2025, 09:06h.
- New York City has signed an agreement that allows its 50-acre parking lot in Queens to be redeveloped
- Hard Rock and billionaire Steve Cohen can construct a casino resort on the city property
- The developers now must secure a casino license from the state
The Hard Rock New York City casino bid moved forward on Monday after city officials executed an agreement with the company and its partner and financier, billionaire Steve Cohen, for the $8 billion resort complex at Willets Point.
On Monday, Casino.org reported that a judge in Manhattan’s Supreme Court had granted a temporary restraining order petitioned by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The US Open organizer at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and Arthur Ashe Stadium said Cohen’s casino development, called Metropolitan Park, stands to violate its lease terms.
The USTA has an agreement with the city that runs through 2092 to utilize the city’s 50-acre parking lot across the Long Island Rail Road next to Cohen’s Citi Field Ballpark. The surface lot is owned by the city, but its agreement with Cohen allows him to transform the pavement into a Las Vegas-like casino resort.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Nancy Bannon ordered the city not to enter into an agreement with Cohen and Hard Rock, operating collectively as Queens Future, until the complaint was resolved or “the City establishes that such agreements comply with USTA’s rights and the City’s obligations under the USTA-City Lease.”
City attorneys determined that signing the Queens Future development language doesn’t impede the USTA lease.
USTA Will Have Access to Casino Parking
After executing the city agreement with Queens Future to allow the company to redevelop the city-owned parking lot, should it be awarded one of the three downstate New York gaming concessions by the Gaming Facility Location Board, an official with Mayor Eric Adams’ office said the USTA’s lease rights will be honored and that the casino pact “complies with a recent order and reflects the USTA’s rights.”
The USTA also welcomed the news, revealing that the city amended the casino contract before signing.
We are thankful that the court honored our request and that the City has complied by adding the required language to its lease with Queens Future, which now acknowledges protections during the three weeks of the US Open,” the USTA said. “We look forward to welcoming the casino as our newest neighbor in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.”
Queens Future shared a similar sentiment.
“We have successfully signed our pre-development agreement with the city. This moves forward Metropolitan Park as a comprehensive transformation of the area that embraces the existing sports attractions to create a world-class sports and entertainment destination in the heart of Queens. This is a positive step forward for the local community and fans,” a statement read.
Casino Parking
Renderings for Cohen and Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park include three large parking structures.
One of the proposed structures would occupy the paved parking lot south of Lot G along Seaver Way at Roosevelt Avenue. That would be an ideal lot for the USTA to utilize during the US Open, as it is nearest the tennis complex and within walking distance for most.
A second option is the proposed Metropolitan Park parking structure at the southwest corner of the current open-air 50-acre parking lot. The site is currently Lot E. That site could be ideal if more pedestrian pathways along Shea Road to connect to Arthur Ashe are constructed.
Metropolitan Park hasn’t publicly revealed the number of parking spaces planned for the garages. The casino’s agreement with the city has also not yet been made public.
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