Two Times Square Venues Backing Roc Nation And Caesars Bid

The Town Hall and Sony Hall, two Times Square venues, Wednesday announced their support for the New York City casino bid fronted by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Caesars.

The Town Hall, established in 1921, is a historic landmark venue at 123 West 43rd St. between Sixth Avenue and Broadway. The location is less than one-quarter mile from where Caesars wants to have its casino on 1515 Broadway, which is currently home to the Minskoff Theatre. Sony Hall is slightly north of 1515 Broadway on 235 West 46th St.

“Roc Nation is dedicated to fostering creative talent and creating an environment where New York art and culture can thrive. Support from The Town Hall and Sony Hall allows us to continue preserving New York’s legacy of being the entertainment mecca,” said Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation, in a joint statement. “We want to make Times Square into a destination for native New Yorkers as much as tourists.”

The two venues join other notable property groups backing the project, including One Times Square, Two Times Square, and SoHo Properties. Overall, more than 200 organizations and businesses are backing the Times Square proposal that is vying for one of three downstate casino licenses to be awarded by the New York State Gaming Commission.

The Roc Nation and Caesars bid is expected to be one of three Manhattan-based casino applicants among eight total submitted to the NYSGC in late June.

A two-way deal

Roc Nation and Caesars pledge to sponsor multiple live events at the two venues each year. The Town Hall is best known as a cultural center for its Educational Outreach Program for thousands of public school students and has featured diverse acts that include Joan Baez, NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

“As a historic cornerstone of New York’s cultural community, The Town Hall is proud to support Caesars Palace Times Square,” said Matt Goldman, executive director of The Town Hall. “This project represents a vital opportunity to fuel the continued resurgence of Times Square. … I genuinely believe Caesars Palace Times Square will help drive additional commerce, increase ticket sales for live performances, and strengthen the entire ecosystem that supports our city’s world-renowned arts and culture sector.”

Sony Hall opened its doors in 2018, but the space originally opened in 1938 as the Diamond Horseshoe. The Sony Corporation left much of the venue’s decor elements and design intact as it continues to serve as a multi-genre music hall.

“As one of New York City’s most iconic music theaters, we understand the vital role that entertainment plays in making the Big Apple — and Times Square, in particular — a world-class destination,” said Tsion Bensusan, chief operating officer of Sony Hall. “Caesars Palace Times Square represents a transformative opportunity to strengthen our industry in this neighborhood, creating a powerful new tourism draw that will benefit theaters of all sizes. We’re proud to join this project and support a vision that will help ensure Times Square remains the world’s premier entertainment district.”

The two venues would partner with Caesars Palace Times Square on multiple initiatives to support the live entertainment industry. That includes hosting workforce development events to help connect New York-based workers with jobs at Caesars Palace Times Square.