BY SOFIA MONTAGNA
Last week, industry leaders shared key updates about various transformative projects that aim to make Queens a premier sports and entertainment destination.
On June 17, community members joined the Queens Chamber of Commerce for its 2025 Queens Business Expo event at Citi Field. This event provided a space for local entrepreneurs and business people to come together to network and learn from industry leaders.
The luncheon section of the business expo featured a panel with five industry leaders: Brad Sims (President & CEO of the New York City Football Club), Sean Caffery (Senior Vice President of Business & Casino Development for Hard Rock International), Jennifer O’Sullivan (COO and Chief Legal & Administrative Officer at New York City Football Club), Daniel Zausner (COO at the US Tennis Association Billie Jean King National Tennis Center), and Michael “Sully” Sullivan (Chief of Staff to New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen). The panel was moderated by Tom Grech, President & CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
During the panel discussion, the panelists shared updates on major developments that could shape the future of Queens as a premier sports and entertainment destination. The projects highlighted included the proposed Metropolitan Park near Citi Field, a new 25,000-seat soccer stadium in Willets Point in Queens, and renovations to Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Panelist Michael (“Sully”) Sullivan gave Business Expo Luncheon attendees an overview of the process of creating Metropolitan Park – a proposed 25-acre sports and entertainment complex that has received strong community support. “The first three years of this process was about listening, meeting our neighbors, and asking the very simple question, ‘If we’re going to try to transform the area around Citi Field, what would you want to see here?’” Sullivan explained.
The proposal, which has cleared several city and state government hurdles, now awaits a community advisory council process. Sullivan expressed hopes that Metropolitan Park will be granted a license by the state at the end of this year.
Tom Grech told event attendees that the Metropolitan Park project is expected to create 23,000 union jobs during construction, with 6,000 careers post-construction.
Panelist Jennifer O’Sullivan spoke about the new 25,000-seat stadium that the New York City Football Club is building in Willets Point. “It’s the first soccer-specific stadium in the five boroughs. It’s the first all-electric stadium in New York City,” she said. “So we’re really proud of that.”
O’Sullivan also explained that the New York City Football Club hopes to open the stadium by 2027 and potentially host women’s sports in addition to men’s sports. The club hopes to expand the stadium’s use beyond soccer, potentially hosting lacrosse, American football, rugby, other sporting events, and concerts. The New York City Football Club’s headquarters will also be based at this stadium.
Finally, panelist Daniel Zausner added that the Arthur Ashe Stadium will undergo a full renovation by 2027. As a part of this project, the USTA will build a 150,000-square-foot player performance center on the site of an existing parking lot. The new facility is intended to free up space in the stadium for enhanced hospitality and fan experience.
If you’re interested in the New York City Football Club’s new stadium, check out their next game on July 3 at Yankee Stadium.
