Mohegan’s Freedom Plaza rejected as Manhattan casino bid falls flat
The project was voted down 4-2, with all five remaining NYC casino bids now outside Manhattan.
Key points:
– Mohegan’s Freedom Plaza Manhattan casino proposal voted down 4-2
– Five NYC casino proposal bids remain, all outside Manhattan
– The remaining bids are set to be considered by advisory committees this month
Stefan Soloviev and Mohegan’s Freedom Plaza NYC casino bid has been formally rejected by a 4-2 vote, which spelled the end of the road for a casino development in Manhattan.
This latest vote comes following the recent rejection of Caesars’ Times Square proposal and Wynn Resorts’ Hudson Yard bid – with the five remaining active NYC casino bids all being based outside of the Manhattan district. Indeed, Mohegan and Soloviev’s East Side development proposal would have situated Freedom Plaza on what is currently Manhattan’s largest undeveloped plot of land, over six acres just south of the United Nations.
However, despite being supported by Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, the pair’s late proposition for the inclusion of 1,000 affordable housing units was not enough to get Freedom Plaza over the line. Remaining as part of the race is Silverstein’s Rush Street Interactive-operated Avenir Casino project, Steve Cohen and Hard Rock Bets’ Citi Field casino bid, MGM Yonkers’ Queens-based Empire City Casino bid, Bally’s Bronx casino bid and the faltering Coney Island casino proposal.
The five remaining proposals active for one of the three potential NYC casino licenses are set to be considered by their respective advisory committees by the end of September. From there, proposals will reach the final consideration stage by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board, followed by final approval from the Gaming Commission.
Good to know: MGM and Resorts World already run casino style venues in NYC, placing their proposals as potential favourites
Commenting on this latest development, Soloviev Group CEO Michael Hershman stated: “We have been humbled by the overwhelming support expressed by neighbours, community and civic organisations, and our faith, labour and workforce partners.
“We believe they recognised what we did – Freedom Plaza was a transformative project that promised benefits that our community deserved and was built upon a sustained engagement with neighbours, civic leaders and stakeholders across the city that recognised this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“We are proud of our partnership with Mohegan and the vision that informed this project that would have revitalised Midtown East and delivered for workers, residents, and organisations across this city. Manhattan is the undisputed capital of the world, and it deserved a fully integrated resort that would have attracted visitors while serving the needs of its community.”
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
