Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz — who have been pretty stingy with signing ballplayers over the past few years — want to build a Las Vegas-style casino on a plot of land next to the stadium and even offered the City of New York $100 million for stretch of land.
That's more than the Mets' $93 million entire payroll this season.
Live-dealer casino gambling is currently illegal in the state of New York, except on tribal lands, but that won't stop Wilpon and his company, Sterling Equities, from throwing the dice on a proposal that aims at building a huge casino with gaming tables and slots, a 500-room, full-service hotel with 1.8 million square feet of retail with a lot of other amenities to the Queens site.
The Southampton-based Shinnecock Indian Nation signed on tho operate the casino, according to the development team's proposal, which was first obtained by project opponents Willets Point United and NYC Park Advocates, reports The Post.
"This will be a place about fun — for families, sports fans and thrill seekers alike," read the proposal.
"It will attract millions of visitors from the New York area and around the world."
Fun and visitors — two things that have been in short supply at Citi Field in recent years.
Wilpon has a long way to go before anyone gets to double-down or punch a slot button on the city-owned patch of junkyard land — even if the idea has Mayor Bloomberg's blessing.
Although Sterling Equities wouldn't directly build or operate the casino, you can bet Major League Baseball — with its tough anti-gambling policies — will be keeping a keen eye on the project.
A MLB spokesman said that they would "need to get all the details of the agreement" and it would ultimately be Commissioner Bud Selig's call.
Selig and Wilpon are longtime friends.
I wonder how the Shinnecock operators will feel when the Atlanta Braves come to town.
Legalize sports betting and eliminate the deficit. How much was wagered on the Super Bowl???.
ReplyDeleteCongress as usual and par for the course has their heads in the sand.
How about building a team?
ReplyDeleteGo into the casino business and sell the team to someone who will do something with it!!
ReplyDeletehow about moving the mets to canada?
ReplyDeleteNothing like a casino near a ball park.....I guess after a tough loss, whats a little blackjack to ease the pain ....can't bunt the runner over ??....nothing like a slot machine to get back that focus....Maybe the Mets can hold tryouts for outfield positions , and lets not forget catcher and closer at the buffet table , since their OF and a lot of other positions are shall we say ....anybody's guess!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a 2 year old non story.....was part of their original Willets Point proposal of possible entertainment venues for the area. Not in the current design....just something else for wannabe press to throw more dirt on the Mets. Like baseball would allow an owner to also own a casino.
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that Pete Rose will now be allowed in the Hall of Fame. Or will they just offer him the CEO position at the casino.
ReplyDeleteGee, I thought Pete gave up gambling...
DeletePoor Pete. He should have been an owner....or a commissioner.
DeleteDo the WIlpons EVER have a clue as to what is going on? There happens to ALREADY be a casino only minutes away from the area they are talking about IN QUEENS! These Wilpons are out of touch, and NUTS!
ReplyDeleteThe Mets seem to forget, THEY STUNK LAST YEAR.
ReplyDeleteHOW ABOUT A PITCHER AND SOMEONE TO COMPLIMENT WRIGHT.