Hard Rock Has Action Plan Ready If It Wins New York Casino License Bid

Speaking to local business owners in Queens, Hard Rock International Chairman and CEO Jim Allen detailed some of the action plans being put in place should the Metropolitan Park bid be selected for one of New York’s three downstate casino licenses.

Allen said there would be a flurry of “early bid packages” for vendors to be released in the final six months of the year, even with the winning bids not expected to be announced until December. Those contracts are contingent on the $8 billion proposal fronted by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock being selected by the New York State Gaming Commission. Metropolitan Park is one of at least nine bids expected to be considered.

“Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park is about building a better future for Queens, one that includes economic opportunity, meaningful partnerships, and jobs,” Allen said. “We’re committed to working directly with local vendors and workforce leaders to deliver on that promise, and we’re excited to bring our unique brand of world-class entertainment, along with good-paying union jobs and opportunity, to Queens.”

An emphasis on local flavor

One of the selling points of the Metropolitan Park proposal is the Taste of Queens Food Hall. Allen said that venue will be exclusively local for both eateries and vendors. The Hard Rock CEO is hoping to create a flexible business model that helps showcase those community groups.

“Maybe there could be spots just on a weekend,” he said, stressing there would be no national food chains in that venue. “Maybe you [take a space] for a month and decide, ‘It’s not for me.’ That’s fine — we’ll find someone else to take the space. It’s really designed to have that flexibility based on serving the community.”

Allen also responded to a question on bringing immigrant-owned franchises into the equation, saying Hard Rock would leverage its international marketing experience to offer services in multiple languages. He added there would also be local-focused community events to further strengthen such relationships.

“Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park has shown a real commitment to putting residents and businesses first,” added Tom Grech, president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “From workforce development partnerships to a ‘Queens-first’ hiring approach, these sessions reflect the kind of investment our borough needs.”

Other plans of action

In addition to the early bid packages that focus on temporary plumbing and foundation concrete, Allen said the group is readying bid packages to be released in the first quarter of next year to maintain a steady flow of construction. That centers mainly around steel and telecommunications equipment required to fully construct the casino within 18 months after final contracting is sourced.

“We have to be humble,” Allen said, according to QNS. “We recognize that we may not be selected, but if we are awarded this amazing opportunity … we want to be ready to go big.”

One other thing Hard Rock currently has in its favor is legislative backing. It already has received approval from the New York City Council to re-zone 50 acres of parking lots surrounding Citi Field. Corresponding legislation at the state level to change the land’s designation from parkland to commercial use is currently both in the Assembly and Senate, with Sen. John Liu’s bill S 7121 further along and waiting to be heard on the Senate floor.