Resorts World NYC Breaks Ground on $5.5B Expansion

NEW YORK: Resorts World New York City has broken ground on Phase Two of its $5.5 billion expansion in Queens. The work begins the project’s main non-gaming buildout, including new hotels, an arena and additional visitor infrastructure.

Genting executives and elected officials marked the start of construction Wednesday, less than three months after live table games launched at the property. Phase Two will add two hotel developments, a sports and media center, a central plaza and new parking infrastructure.

Phase Two Adds Hotels, Arena and Sports Center

Phase Two will add a 400-room hotel tower beside the existing Hyatt Regency, a separate 1,200-room Crockfords hotel and a 7,000-seat multipurpose arena. The Kenny “The Jet” Sports and Media Complex will move to a more central location on the Resorts World campus. Named for Queens-born former NBA player Kenny Smith, the facility is intended to support sports, broadcasting and community programs.

The full expansion is expected to add two million square feet of gaming, dining, retail, entertainment and convention space to the existing one-million-square-foot property. Resorts World estimates the wider project will support 10,000 jobs, including about 5,000 union construction positions.

“Not only are we keeping every commitment we made in our proposal to the state, but we are running well ahead of schedule in starting to build outside of our existing building,” Genting Group Executive Chairman Lim Kok Thay said.

Casino Floor Expands With 1,400 Slots

The groundbreaking follows the April opening of New York City’s first full commercial casino at Resorts World Queens. The property began operating live dealer games after previously offering only slot-style video lottery terminals and electronic table games.

Resorts World also reopened the first floor of its casino this week with 1,400 additional slot machines, raising the property’s total to approximately 3,900. The operator said the expanded floor is intended to accommodate more customers and increase gaming tax revenue.

The company reported more than $230 million in slot gross gaming revenue during the first 11 weeks after the commercial casino opened. It separately said the property paid $170 million in casino taxes and racing support during its first 12 weeks of expanded operation.

Full Resort Buildout Extends Beyond Gaming

The completed development is planned to include 2,000 hotel rooms, 6,000 slot machines and 800 live table games. The wider proposal also calls for more than 12 acres of public green space and over 30 food and beverage venues.

Resorts World has not provided detailed opening dates for each Phase Two component. Construction progress on the hotel towers, arena and sports complex will determine when the next parts of the Queens integrated resort become operational.

RELATED TOPICS: Business