Mets Owners Requested Casino, Settle For Mall

[Buster]

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2013/2/9...ettle-for-mall

With all of the early coverage of Spring Training, it's been easy to miss the recent details that emerged about the further development of a number of the areas around Citi Field.

Namely, some interesting reports surfaced earlier this week about how the Wilpon-led Sterling Equities group pitched -- and was subsequently denied -- a request for a large-scale casino in the area of Willets Point, directly adjacent to the baseball stadium. The group had even lined up the Southampton-based Shinnecock Indian Nation to operate the supposed facility; talk about having your ducks in a row.

In any case, the Wilpons' grand gaming plans will not come to pass. According to New York State law, live-dealer casinos are not legal in New York except on tribal lands. Instead, they'll stick to the original blueprint -- agreed upon in June 2012 -- which calls for a 200-room hotel directly across from the stadium on 126th Street. Additionally, phase one of the long-term re-development plan also calls for a 1.4 million square-foot retail center/shopping mall in the shadow of the baseball field. The mall will displace Citi Field's central parking lot:



Where will we park? Who knows. And I can't say I'm excited about all the additional congestion related to a shopping center either.

Later phases of the plan call for additional housing and retail/restaurant locations to be developed on the adjacent 126th St. strip. However, these latter plans are all slated for completion at some point before 2025 so don't go breaking any plans just yet.

As the above graphic diagrams, there have also been tangentially related talks about more sports stadiums in the immediate vicinity of Willets Point -- additional large-scale tennis grandstands at the nearby National Tennis center and a 25,000 seat Major League Soccer stadium smack in the heart of Flushing Meadows/Corona Park.

In short, Willets Point is going to look quite different and could actually end up being pretty cool -- and pretty profitable for the Wilpons. But it might be a while.

[Ernie]

Shinnecock's are not real Indians.

[32green]

Originally Posted by Buster

Where will we park?

From what I've seen of Citifield attendance figures, you could eliminate two more parking lots......... and still have plenty of spaces left over.






















:ohhellsyeahIsaidit:









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[Ernie]

Originally Posted by 32green

From what I've seen of Citifield attendance figures, you could eliminate two more parking lots......... and still have plenty of spaces left over.

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Troll. Now go grab your snowblower.

[32green]

Originally Posted by Ernie

Troll. Now go grab your snowblower.

Love thy neighbor is not just for greeting cards.

Thought you would know that, brother.




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[Brooklyn Jet]

I like this, from the sheer standpoint of going to Shea or Citi through the years, theres nothing to do outside the stadium before or after the game unless you need new used car parts. Some shopping, a hotel, maybe some bars, really fix up the surrounding area would be great.

[petejet]

Originally Posted by Buster

http://www.amazinavenue.com/2013/2/9...ettle-for-mall

"profitable for the Wilpons"

But will they invest the $ in the team?

[Buster]

Originally Posted by petejet

But will they invest the $ in the team?

Let's see...

The Wilpons cry poverty and let their homegrown batting champion SS walk without making an offer.

Then they spend nothing in free agency saying they do not wish to lose their 1st round draft picks.

Now they build a shopping mall in the stadium parking lot.

Where did they get the money for the mall?

I thought they were broke?

[32green]

Originally Posted by Buster

Let's see...

The Wilpons cry poverty and let their homegrown batting champion SS walk without making an offer.

Then they spend nothing in free agency saying they do not wish to lose their 1st round draft picks.

Now they build a shopping mall in the stadium parking lot.

Where did they get the money for the mall?

I thought they were broke?

You forgot letting your 20 game and Cy Young winner walk.



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[Buster]

Originally Posted by 32green

You forgot letting your 20 game and Cy Young winner walk.



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I did. thanks for the reminder

[Scott Dierking]

Originally Posted by 32green

You forgot letting your 20 game and Cy Young winner walk.



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Actually, they traded him.

Now, this trade will need to be evaluated in 4-5 years, but potentially, with the talent they brought back (2 top 30 prospects), it can turn out well for them.

As much as I like Dickey, to expect a repeat performance from him is asking a lot. What, Dickey will help them win 79 games instead of 75?

With Niese, Harvey, Santana, Gee, Marcum the Mets actually trot out a decent starting staff. And then they have to find room for Wheeler. Dickey was a luxury, and they cashed that chip in at the highest point.

That is not letting him walk.

[Tucker134]

Originally Posted by 32green

You forgot letting your 20 game and Cy Young winner walk.



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32 you're better than this!!!

not signing Reyes was the right thing to do, as they were in no position to do that- in hindsight they didnt lose much at SS with Ruben Tejada, wouldnt you agree?

[Brooklyn Jet]

Originally Posted by 32green

You forgot letting your 20 game and Cy Young winner walk.



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Walk?

At least be accurate.... they dealt him for one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball and another top pitching prospect, #3 in the Jays system.

They traded an aging pitcher at his highest value; thats not a bad move if you look at it impartially.

[Brooklyn Jet]

Originally Posted by Buster

The Wilpons cry poverty and let their homegrown batting champion SS walk without making an offer.

For the money, Tejada was a decent replacement, and Reyes didnt exactly tear up the league last year. Now Toronto is a different story, i think on paper, Jose will put up big numbers at the top of that lineup.

But to overpay for a SS who had a career year, hit 30 plus points over his normal BA, and actually stayed healthy for once..... I didnt mind them letting him walk.

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by 32green

You forgot letting your 20 game and Cy Young winner walk.



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This post shows you are nothing but an unabashed Met hater. No offense. Your facts are wrong.

[Tucker134]

Originally Posted by Ernie

This post shows you are nothing but an unabashed Met hater. No offense. Your facts are wrong.

32 has lost his mojo....

one of our best JI posters...a moderator no less! Blinded by the hate...

[detjetsfan]

There is absolutely nothing to do in the neighborhood by Citifield but most mets fans take the 7 train in from Manhattan. You go from Midtown Manhattan to Citifield in a matter of minutes. A casino would have made more sense but the pro sports leagues are terrified of gambling being associated.


Really there's not a whole lot to do by Yankee stadium either unless you want to buy a $9 beer at Stan's or visit a 99 cent store. Ditto for Metlife stadium the closest thing of note is Stilletos and you need a car to get there. Only sporting venue in NY that is in a happening area is MSG (haven't been to Barclays yet).

[Tucker134]

We'll see how packed the filthy South Bronx is this year with a sh#tty Yankee team in ridiculously expensive seats. Laughable.......

[isired]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

I like this, from the sheer standpoint of going to Shea or Citi through the years, theres nothing to do outside the stadium before or after the game unless you need new used car parts. Some shopping, a hotel, maybe some bars, really fix up the surrounding area would be great.

The Candlewood says hi!

[32green]

Originally Posted by Scott Dierking

Actually, they traded him.

Now, this trade will need to be evaluated in 4-5 years, but potentially, with the talent they brought back (2 top 30 prospects), it can turn out well for them.

As much as I like Dickey, to expect a repeat performance from him is asking a lot. What, Dickey will help them win 79 games instead of 75?

With Niese, Harvey, Santana, Gee, Marcum the Mets actually trot out a decent starting staff. And then they have to find room for Wheeler. Dickey was a luxury, and they cashed that chip in at the highest point.

That is not letting him walk.

Originally Posted by Tucker134

32 you're better than this!!!

not signing Reyes was the right thing to do, as they were in no position to do that- in hindsight they didnt lose much at SS with Ruben Tejada, wouldnt you agree?

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

Walk?

At least be accurate.... they dealt him for one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball and another top pitching prospect, #3 in the Jays system.

They traded an aging pitcher at his highest value; thats not a bad move if you look at it impartially.

Originally Posted by Ernie

This post shows you are nothing but an unabashed Met hater. No offense. Your facts are wrong.

You guys are easy.

Originally Posted by isired

The Candlewood says hi!

Jeebus...havent thought about that jernt in years. Anyone here ever hit the "Clambar" in FLushing prior to a 7 train ride in to SHea? DOnt even know if either one is still there.

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