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Edited by Jiten171 at 27-12-2023 07:11 AM
Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets MLB franchise, plans to build a new casino, Citi Casino, near the team's home stadium, Citi Field. Cohen hopes the new property will attract more people to the area. This move reflects the efforts of other franchise owners to attract people to their sports venues.
During a recent investment sports conference by Sportico, Cohen expressed regret about the lack of activity around Citi Field. He jokingly said the only thing people can do is "change a hubcap or change a catalytic converter." He described the area as a "50-acre concrete wasteland."
According to Cohen, the new casino will provide Mets fans with something to do before or after the games, increasing interest in the area.
The MLB franchise owner also noted that his team would no longer "invest in ballparks" but rather try to create an experience that truly matters to sports fans.
"I have a lot of ideas I want to implement. You can't spend money without limits, so you have to budget. Also, I have to deal with the issue of insufficient investment. I call it a money pit," Cohen said.
Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets
The owner concluded that Citi Field is an "unpolished gem," and he hopes to turn the situation around.
Cohen's casino proposal is not the first attempt to develop the area around Citi Field. A year ago, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced plans for the vicinity of the MLB stadium.
Cohen's proposal comes amid the competition for three casino licenses in New York.
Cohen's enthusiasm for investing in the Mets dates back to 2021 when, before the start of the MLB season, he bought the team from the Wilpon and Katz families at a staggering cost of $2.4 billion.
Despite the significant investment, Cohen revealed that he enjoys being a team owner so much that he would consider buying another team. However, the businessman prefers to first do things right with the New York Mets before considering another investment of this kind.
Cohen said that being a team owner is more satisfying than his hedge fund company because people now really "care about him."
Meanwhile, Cohen continues to search for the CEO of the Mets. He mentioned that many candidates initially looked good, but when he saw them for the second time, they failed to leave a lasting impression on him. |
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Post time 20-11-2023 21:29:31