First Public Hearing on Caesars Palace Times Square

The first formal community hearing for the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square casino stretched into a seven-hour session Wednesday, drawing hundreds of speakers and exposing sharp divisions between organized labor and the city’s theatre community. The $5.4 billion plan—backed by Caesars Entertainment, SL Green Realty, and Roc Nation—would transform the 1515 Broadway office tower into a casino and entertainment complex. It is one of eight proposals competing for up to three downstate New York casino licenses.

The hearing, held at Scandinavia House’s Borge Hall, was the second convened by a local Community Advisory Committee (CAC). Four of the CAC’s six members must approve the project before it advances to the state’s licensing process. The committee must hold at least one more hearing before a binding vote by September 30.

 

Project Name	Location	Cost	Developers	Status
Caesars Palace Times Square	1515 Broadway, New York City	$5.4 Billion	Caesars Entertainment, SL Green, Roc Nation	Under CAC Review

 

Corporate Pitch and Tourism Promise

SL Green CEO Marc Holliday emphasized the project’s minimal construction footprint, as it would repurpose an existing building rather than erect a new structure. He pledged measures to improve traffic flow in Times Square and said the casino floor would be located above street level to reduce congestion. Caesars CEO Tom Reeg, making his first appearance in the bid’s public outreach, said the project could attract international visitors and extend Caesars’ customer loyalty program to benefit nearby businesses. “We can really create something special that’ll attract international tourists and their spending power,” he said.

The public comment period quickly became a contest between construction unions and theatre representatives. Members of Laborers’ Local 79 arrived in large numbers, reiterating talking points in support of the bid and highlighting the guaranteed union jobs it would generate. Theatre advocates warned the casino could damage Broadway’s economic ecosystem, which they said contributed $15 billion to the city’s economy last year. Broadway League president Jason Laks accused organizers of restricting access to opponents—a claim the CAC chair said would be referred to the state gaming commission.

 

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Community Concerns and Celebrity Endorsements

Local opinion was more evenly split than at the earlier MGM Empire City hearing. Some residents feared increased congestion and quality-of-life declines, while others saw the casino as a potential catalyst for revitalizing a post-pandemic Times Square. Supporters included rapper Fat Joe and radio host Charlamagne Tha God, both connected to Roc Nation. The bid also includes a $10 million pledge to the New York Coalition of Legacy Theatres of Color Fund, promoted by actor Wendell Pierce. The next CAC hearing for the Caesars proposal has not yet been scheduled.