New York: Broadway opposition ends Jay-Z-backed Caesars Palace casino plan in Times Square | Yogonet International
Summary
An advisory committee commissioned by the state voted 4–2 to reject a proposed $5.4 billion Caesars Palace resort at 1515 Broadway, effectively striking the Jay‑Z‑backed plan out of contention for one of the downstate full‑service casino licences. The project — a partnership between Caesars Entertainment, SL Green and Roc Nation — would have occupied the office tower that houses the Minskoff Theatre, home to Disney’s The Lion King. Strong opposition from the Broadway League, producers, stagehands, residents and small businesses argued the casino would damage the historic theatre district and impair Broadway’s recovery. The Avenir Hudson Yards proposal was also rejected by the same margin; only one Manhattan bid now remains in the running while other contenders continue in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
Key Points
- The advisory committee rejected the $5.4bn Caesars Palace Times Square proposal by a 4–2 vote, removing it from the contest for a downstate full‑service casino licence.
- The bid was backed by Caesars Entertainment, SL Green and Jay‑Z’s Roc Nation, and proposed for 1515 Broadway (Minskoff Theatre site).
- Broad opposition from the Broadway League, theatre producers, stagehands, local residents and small businesses argued the casino would harm the theatre district’s character and recovery.
- Supporters, including SL Green CEO Marc Holliday and Rev. Al Sharpton, criticised the decision; proponents said the resort would boost local spending and even include community features.
- Another Manhattan proposal, Avenir at Hudson Yards, was also rejected 4–2; competing bids across the city and state remain, including proposals in the Bronx, Coney Island and Queens.
Author style
Punchy: This is a major industry moment — a celebrity‑backed, big‑budget casino bid for Times Square was turned down after passionate community hearings. If you care about gaming policy, city development or theatre preservation, the implications are significant: community and cultural concerns can still override large commercial proposals in Manhattan. Read the detail — it matters for future licence contests and urban planning wins and losses.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: Broadway pushed back and won — a Jay‑Z‑linked Caesars plan for Times Square has been stopped. If you follow casino licences, urban development or the arts sector, this explains who fought, why they won and what it means next. We’ve done the legwork and boiled down the hearings, the drama and the fallout so you don’t have to sit through hours of testimony.