Jay-Z is pushing for Caesars Palace Casino to set up a flagship spot in the heart of New York’s Times Square.
On Wednesday (July 23), the 25-time Grammy winner attended a committee hearing alongside reps from Roc Nation, SL Green, and Caesars Entertainment as they pitched for one of the three downstate casino licenses up for grabs.
Around the 44-minute mark of the streamed meeting, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez introduced Hov, who praised the group’s cross-borough collaboration and said it reflects what “New York really looks like.”
Jay explained that he “came up through sports and entertainment” and believes Times Square is the “perfect place” for a Caesars Palace. While the original casino is based in Paradise, Nevada, Caesars Entertainment has properties around the globe.
“I’m trying to reserve myself — it’s a very good idea,” Jay said. “Very good alignment for us to fulfill the promise of Times Square.”
Jay-Z also highlighted Roc Nation’s strategy of “bringing culture to the NFL” through their live entertainment partnership during the hearing.
Teaming up with SL Green and Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation’s Times Square casino proposal projects over $7 billion in taxes, $26.7 billion in economic benefits for local businesses, more than 3,000 construction jobs, and 3,800 permanent jobs.
The ambitious plan would transform 1515 Broadway into a 992-room, five-star hotel featuring world-class restaurants, a wellness retreat, gaming floors, exclusive nightclubs, and top-tier entertainment. If approved, the project could open in four years.
However, the proposal has sparked backlash. On Friday (July 25), Broadway industry leaders, residents, and local businesses gathered in Father Duffy Square to protest the casino bid. Chanting “Broadway is not backing down,” the No Times Square Casino coalition argued the project would damage the neighborhood’s cultural and residential character.
“This casino’s developers don’t care about improving this neighborhood,” Jason Laks, President of The Broadway League, said (via Broadway World). “They’re looking to profit on the backs of residents, local businesses, and the theater community that helped revive this area after the pandemic. Broadway is the cultural heartbeat of this city — something completely different from what a casino brings.”
Laks added, “The over 14 million attendees Broadway drew proves we don’t need a casino to bring Times Square back. A casino in the heart of this district would only set us back.”
In response, Caesars Palace issued a statement defending the plan: “Caesars Palace Times Square will deliver more than $250 million in community benefits to businesses in Times Square and the residents of Hell’s Kitchen, as well as 9,000 new good-paying union jobs for New Yorkers.”
If approved, the casino has also pledged to hold monthly job fairs exclusively for members of the Actors’ Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802, unions representing Broadway actors, stage managers, and musicians, according to Playbill.
