Jay-Z and Roc Nation’s long-running push to open a casino in Times Square has hit a major roadblock. On Tuesday (September 17), a community advisory committee voted against advancing the bid, which was backed by SL Green Realty Corporation, Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and Live Nation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The decision was celebrated by theater advocates who argued that a casino would harm Broadway’s cultural and economic ecosystem.
“This was a vote to protect the magic of Broadway for the one hundred thousand New Yorkers who depend on it for their livelihoods, and for the tens of millions who come from around the world to experience it,” said Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League.
“A casino can go anywhere, but Broadway only lives here.”
Not everyone was pleased with the outcome. SL Green CEO Marc Holliday lashed out at committee members, calling their decision “despicable.”
Jay-Z, however, had defended the project earlier in the week, insisting that the casino would have uplifted the area rather than disrupted it.
“New York City is the entertainment capital of the world. So the idea of a world-class casino here makes perfect sense,” he said in an interview with City & State New York.
“I’ve always looked at opportunities that can shift culture while uplifting communities, and Caesars Palace Times Square is exactly that,” the rapper added.
“We’re creating a hub that draws even more people into the neighborhood. Generating new energy, new business, and new opportunities for everyone.”
Despite the setback, Roc Nation and its partners may still explore ways to revive the proposal in the future.
