Hard Rock Metropolitan Park Update: New Construction Activity, Delays, and Casino Details Revealed

Hard Rock Metropolitan Park has entered a new phase of visible pre-construction activity around Citi Field, even as filings confirm the $8 billion casino-anchored development is already running more than five months behind schedule. New documents filed since March outline updated hotel and casino specifications, revised garage timelines, and expanded site-prep work across the 50-acre site.

Construction Progress Since March

• Crews have expanded site-prep work including curb removal, pavement clearing, fencing, and staging of heavy machinery.
• One parking garage has begun test piling, the first step toward foundation work.
• Full casino test piling - originally scheduled for January 1, 2026 - has not yet begun.
• Developers maintain the project is still targeting a 2030 opening, despite delays.

Project Delays and Updated Timeline

• The project is officially 5.5 months behind schedule.
• Casino construction, originally expected to begin April 1, 2026, has not started.
• Updated garage timelines:
• Southfield Garage: completion expected November 2027
• Northfield Garage: completion expected April 2028
• No updated groundbreaking date has been released.

New Hotel Details

• 1,000 rooms, including 393 luxury suites
• Tower top designed to resemble the New York City skyline, echoing the Mets logo
• Solar panels approved for installation across the hotel roof

Updated Casino Program

• 286,208 sq. ft. gaming floor
• 5,000 slot machines
• 375 live-dealer tables
• 18,381 sq. ft. sportsbook and bar

Parking & Transit Integration

• Three multi-level garages confirmed, including the Taste of Queens Garage above the food hall.
• The Northfield Garage will include a covered pedestrian walkway connecting directly to the Willets Point station.
• Site prep for all garages is underway.

Public Space & Community Benefits

• Developers reaffirm 25 acres of new public parkland.
• Community benefits package exceeds $1.75 billion, including workforce programs and infrastructure upgrades.
• Parking access disputes with the USTA have been resolved.

Final Point

The Hard Rock Metropolitan Park project continues to advance through early construction phases, but filings show the timeline slipping before vertical construction has even begun. With new hotel and casino specifications now public - and site-prep work accelerating - the next major milestone will be the long-delayed start of test piling for the main casino structure.