New York, November 18, 2025 – The Metropolitan Park developer and owner, the Cohen team of Queens Future Company, announced on Monday (November 17) that they have successfully signed a “pre-development agreement” with the New York City government. They stated that the casino project is moving forward and that the agreement fully complies with the court’s ruling, requiring the inclusion of the United States Tennis Association’s “superiority clause”.
The USTA recently filed a lawsuit in the Manhattan State Supreme Court, alleging that the New York City government violated the “priority usage rights” clause in its existing lease agreement when negotiating a new agreement with the Cohen team to build a casino complex at the Citi Field parking lot for the Metropolitan Park project. The court subsequently issued a temporary restraining order, prohibiting the city government from signing any new agreements with Cohen until they can prove they are not infringing on the USTA’s rights.
The USTA responded with satisfaction, confirming that the agreement now includes necessary language to protect the parking lot priority during the three weeks of the US Open tournament each year. They expressed anticipation for the casino to become their new neighbor.
The USTA and the city government have a 99-year lease agreement that includes a “superiority clause”, granting the USTA priority usage rights for the Citi Field parking lot during the US Open tournament, with the exception of Mets games.
In response to the court’s requirements, the city government and the Cohen team announced on November 17 that they have re-signed a new agreement.
A city government spokesperson emphasized that the agreement respects the USTA’s rights. Before the Cohen team’s successful signing of the pre-agreement, USTA spokesperson Brendan McIntyre released a statement indicating the association’s full support for the casino project, clarifying that the lawsuit was not intended to halt the bidding process but to ensure the maintenance of parking lot priority during the three weeks of the US Open.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the USTA welcomed the inclusion of necessary clauses in the agreement between Metropolitan Park and the city government to protect their priority rights. They expressed gratitude for the court accepting their request, and for the city government’s cooperation in incorporating clauses to explicitly recognize protective measures during the three weeks of the US Open.
This $8 billion development project is jointly funded by New York Mets’ billionaire owner Cohen and Hard Rock International, planning to transform the 50-acre Citi Field parking lot into an entertainment complex centered around a casino.
On December 1, the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board will recommend up to three casino projects to the New York State Gaming Commission. By December 31, the Gaming Commission will vote to decide on the final projects to be awarded casino licenses.
Currently, there are only three casino applications competing for the three casino licenses in downstate New York: Metropolitan Park, Bally’s Entertainment City in the Bronx, and Resorts World NYC in South Queens. The remaining eight initial proposals have been eliminated, including those in Manhattan and Coney Island.