Construction prep underway for $8 billion Hard Rock casino in Queens

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 7:15 PM
Image aggregated from Queens Daily Eagle.
  • Jacob Kaye, Queens Daily Eagle

While the New York Mets lay the groundwork for their upcoming season in Florida, similar foundations are being laid for Steve Cohen’s casino next to Citi Field.

Preparations for the construction of Metropolitan Park began in recent weeks, marking the first steps toward the creation of the casino and entertainment complex Cohen and Hard Rock won a license to build in December.

The work doesn’t qualify as an actual groundbreaking, according to a Metropolitan Park spokesperson. That will come when construction begins in earnest – the spokesperson declined to comment on when that might be.

Preparation for construction began earlier this month.