Roc Nation Tries to Gain Backing for Times Square Casino

Jay-Z and his entertainment agency Roc Nation have kicked off several ads in an attempt to gain support from New York City residents in their pursuit of a downstate casino license. The company bought several pull-page ads in various media outlets, which highlighted the benefit of having a casino in Times Square, in “The City that Never Sleeps”.

Currently, the Empire State is looking to issue three commercial gaming licenses for the downstate region. For its pursuit of one of the licenses, Roc Nation teamed up with gambling giants Caesars Entertainment and real estate firm SL Green. However, their bid would only be considered by the state if they have full community support, which is not the case now.

Trying to Gather Support

In the open letter, the company said Caesars Palace Times Square would benefit all of New York, including hotel and restaurant workers in the area, as well as retailers and nearby neighbourhoods. The letter also read that their bid committed over US$115 million for diverse theatre programs which would come with daycare for Broadway workers and their families.

The consortium announced its partnership and casino bid in the fall of 2022. In their press, the companies revealed their plans of opening a gaming property in the world’s top tourist destination. As one of the partners, Roc Nation’s role would be to help revitalize Times Square by teaming up with local organizations to re-imagine programming in the area.

If they come into possession of one of the licenses, the three companies want to launch the casino on 1515 Broadway in Time Square. However, the location has faced some opposition from the Broadway Coalition, citing potential liabilities of a casino in the area, which would worsen traffic, cause economic disruption, and make the area less family-friendly.

But Roc Nation and the rapper argue that the project would provide value to tourists and residents while enhancing the economy. In the letter, they said the casino would be a chance to create a destination at the heart of Times Square, which is the crossroads of the world. The Grammy Award winner said the partnership will bring economic opportunity, growth, and enrichment to the region.

Easier Said Than Done

But should be explained that the battle for the three available licenses will be more than a tough one. This is due to the fact, that Empire City Casino in Yonkers and Resort World New York City in Queens are rumoured to be in pole position for two of the licenses. This is due to the fact that they already operate some sort of gambling and will be quicker to expand to full-scale casinos.

There are also plenty of other strong candidates who have already submitted their bids to the state’s officials. This includes Las Vegas Sands, which expressed its interest in a casino on Long Island at the start of 2023. For the project, the company wants to use land currently occupied by the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Source: Aria, Bell “JAY-Z And Roc Nation Pen An Open Letter To Garner Support For A Times Square Casino” Yahoo, May 12, 2023