The $5.4 billion Times Square casino plan has been dealt a major blow after a decisive rejection from the six-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The vote ended 4–2 against moving forward, halting a bid led by SL Green Realty, Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and Live Nation to convert the 1515 Broadway office tower into a casino and entertainment complex.
Inside the Vote
The vote took place in a glass-walled conference room near Times Square. The space, lined with frosted partitions and filled with reporters and community members, had a tense but formal atmosphere. Committee members sat around a long rectangular table, papers and microphones spread in front of them, while observers and journalists filled the perimeter. Cameras and lights crowded the corners of the room, underscoring the high-stakes nature of the decision.
SL Green CEO Marc Holliday, visibly frustrated after the defeat, confronted committee members, telling them: “What you did here today was despicable.” His sharp rebuke immediately drew criticism. Former New York Assemblyman and CAC member Dick Gottfried, who voted against the proposal, called Holliday’s remarks “completely inappropriate” and defended the process as “open and fair.”
What Was at Stake
The plan would have built a casino above the Minskoff Theatre—home to The Lion King—alongside a Nobu hotel, luxury restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs, a wellness retreat, and nightlife venues programmed by Roc Nation. A Caesars Sportsbook at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club was also in the works, designed to merge gaming and entertainment.
Developers touted projections of 3,800 permanent jobs, $23.2 billion in gross gaming revenue within a decade, and billions in new tax revenues. They also pledged $250 million in community investments, including $80 million for Times Square safety and security, a $15 million civil rights museum backed by Rev. Al Sharpton, and discounted Broadway tickets for underfunded families.
Broadway Pushback
Despite these promises, the Broadway League and a coalition of theater groups—including IATSE and the Shubert Organization—fought fiercely against the casino, warning it would destabilize the Broadway ecosystem, increase congestion, and put tens of thousands of theater-related jobs at risk. Playbills across Broadway carried “Save Broadway” inserts urging theatergoers to oppose the project.
Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League, hailed the vote as a victory: “A casino can go anywhere, but Broadway only lives here. This was a vote to protect the magic of Broadway for the one hundred thousand New Yorkers who depend on it.”
The Fallout
With the advisory rejection, the bid will not move forward to the state’s Gaming Facilities Location Board, which is reviewing other proposals as it decides where to place three new downstate casino licenses. For now, the dream of a casino in the heart of Times Square remains out of play.
