Much like their intra-city rivals, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets also had a 2023 season worth forgetting. After a dismal 75-87 record that saw them finish fourth in their division, the Mets will look to revamp their side in a bid to reach October next season. But for the iconic Queens-based franchise, that’s not all.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is a man with deep pockets and holds the aim of transforming the team. Apart from a record payroll in 2023, the 67-year-old billionaire has another trick up his sleeve to ensure that the Mets reach the next level.

Cohen’s ambitious plans

Just earlier this week, Cohen surprised everyone as he announced his ambitious $8 billion plan to upgrade Citi Field. The ‘Metropolitan Park’, as it’s called, spanning 50 acres, aims to include a hotel, casino, restaurant, and bars in the area around the stadium. In addition to that, the plan also includes 20 acres of public park space, community grounds, and waterfront, along with an upgrade in transit stations, roads, and parking infrastructure.

A jubilant Cohen expressed the importance of his plan, saying, “It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves.” He further added, “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy but can be truly proud of.“

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It has been stated that the Mets owner has already started engaging with the community and has begun hiring lobbyists to put the plan into action. However, the competition for casino licenses in the state, apart from land use approval from the New York legislature and the governor’s office, still poses significant challenges to his plan. Although developmental plans like these won’t be the first or the last. Instead, they might just be the way of the future.

Large sports complexes: A growing trend

Of late, large multipurpose sports complexes have become increasingly common. In 2019, the Golden State Warriors from the NBA spent around $1.4 billion in order to build the 11-acre Chase Center in San Francisco. The development included a range of restaurants and shopping options, apart from sporting venues. The Milwaukee Bucks’s 2017 overhaul of the Deer District was also made with a similar view.

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With these large developments growing as a trend, it will be interesting to see how the Mets’ plan goes. But it cannot be denied that having a well-off owner with grand plans might just change the New York Mets’ fortune in the years to come. What do you think about the proposed park?

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