Jack Bennett's Mets Blog

When multi-billionaire Steve Cohen bought the Mets in 2020, he made it clear that he prioritized the team being successful first and foremost, but also made it clear that it is a business as well. During the first half decade of his tenure as owner, he has dumped hundreds of millions of dollars a season into the organization. The richest owner in the sport made his impact early and often. This included not just player contracts, but new development centers in both the United States and places like the Dominican Republic, cutting edge pitching labs, you name it. This has resulted in the Mets being one of the least profitable in the sport.

After being the team in Major League Baseball that operated at the biggest loss in 2025, Cohen pressed forward with a grand plan to make the area around the ballpark one of the most desirable in all of sports. If you look at the map below, scroll around the area surrounding Citi Field currently. There is virtually nothing there, or at least nothing for the everyday fan to participate in before or after games.

The plan to change everything is known as “Metropolitan Park.” Initially introduced by Cohen in 2023, this venture is set to cost $8.1 billion to convert 50 acres surrounding Citi Field into a destination for both New Yorkers and visiting fans alike. The centerpoint of this project is a sparkling Hard Rock hotel that is projected to be the largest hotel in New York City, with over 2,000 rooms available. The hotel will operate with a full casino and sportsbook.

Mets fans for years have complained that the area surrounding the ballpark is severely lacking when compared to other franchises that have massive hangout areas surrounding their parks, such as Ballpark Village in St. Louis or the Battery in Atlanta. The below graphic shows the number of different projects that will make up this incredible renovation.

The largest hangup was the inclusion of the casino, but the project was officially approved by the New York Gaming Commission in December of last year. New York has been strict about giving out licenses for casinos as it is not technically legal in the state, but authorities saw fit for this project to be endorsed. Plans are shifting seemingly by the day, but Metropolitan Park is projected to be fully operating by the year 2030.

Now maybe lets see if the baseball team can start winning some games? Even if the Mets are putrid in four years like they are now, at least the ballpark experience will be bolstered ten fold.