MGM Resorts made its case Thursday, August 7, before the five-member Community Advisory Council charged with determining community support of the MGM Resorts application for a full commercial casino license for Empire City Casino. The proposed transformation would turn the historic Yonkers Raceway property into a full-scale casino and entertainment destination and, according to MGM, deliver thousands of jobs, hundreds of millions in community benefits, and a long-term economic boost for the city and region.
The Community Advisory Council, which consists of appointees from Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblymember Nader Sayegh, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, and Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, is required to hold two public hearings to gather community feedback. The first will take place Monday, August 11 at 6 p.m. at the Grinton I. Will Public Library at 1500 Central Park Avenue, with a second scheduled for Tuesday, September 16 at 6 p.m. at the Yonkers Montessori Academy at 160 Woodlawn Avenue.
With the 125-year legacy of Yonkers Raceway behind it, Empire City is readying for the next century. Its story stretches back more than a century as a racetrack, and 20 years as a video lottery terminal facility. In 2019, MGM Resorts acquired the property, investing more than $1 billion in purchase and improvements. Today, it boasts the sixth-largest gaming floor in the nation, employs hundreds, most in unionized positions, and has contributed over $5 billion to the state’s education fund since opening, with $330 million in state aid returned to Yonkers.
Louis Theros, President & COO of Empire City, told the CAC that this proposal is “the culmination of years of planning” and “the only project not located in New York City proper, but in the state’s third-largest city, one that has earned it and deserves it.”
MGM officials outlined the details of more than $56 million annually recurring funds that are expected to benefit the City of Yonkers, in addition to a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), which includes:
- $10 million for a new library/community center
- $2 million for small business façade improvements along Yonkers Avenue
- $1.5 million initial payment, plus $500,000 annually, for economic development and community needs
- $2 million for Yonkers Avenue streetscape upgrades
- $1.25 million for parks improvements
- $2 million annually for a new squad car and 24/7 police patrol of the casino property
Additional commitments include stormwater management upgrades, modernizing 42 traffic intersections within a mile of the property, and additional city infrastructure upgrades.
With a commercial license, MGM says it will triple its workforce, creating over 2,000 new permanent jobs with average annual compensation exceeding $150,000 for full-time employees. A new on-site Dealer Training School, in partnership with SUNY Westchester Community College and the Hotel Trades Council, will prepare local residents for careers in live table games and other casino operations.
Construction, projected to begin in the second half of 2026, would generate over 6,500 union construction jobs — nearly 4 million man-hours — under a finalized Project Labor Agreement. MGM also pledged robust recruitment and training programs, multilingual hiring events, and partnerships with nonprofits, unions, and business groups to ensure equitable access to opportunities.
The transformation includes a reimagined dining lineup, from a contemporary steakhouse and Italian-American favorite Parm, to an expanded TAP Sports Bar, a five-station Empire Market food hall, and a Pan-Asian noodles concept. These new dining experiences are aimed at creating hundreds of local jobs while partnering with New York-based producers.
Entertainment is also a key part of the vision, with MGM planning to activate the venue more than 70 times per year for concerts at the state-of-the-art entertainment venue, leveraging its global entertainment network to bring high-profile acts to Yonkers. The space is designed with flexibility to accommodate local graduations and community events, and includes additional meeting and event space.
MGM representatives emphasized widespread backing from labor, business, and community groups. The company has collected more than 10,000 petition signatures in support of the project, and dozens of letters from unions, business organizations, and nonprofits lauding MGM’s track record, transparency, and community commitment.
“Failing to take advantage of MGM Resorts’ role to become a substantial economic driver for New York would have severe unintended consequences for the region,” one union letter stated.
As the Community Advisory Council moves forward, public input will play a critical role in shaping its recommendations. “This multi-billion-dollar private investment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Taryn Duffy, President of Tarsam Public Affairs and former Empire City executive. “For more than a century, this property has been waiting to become the economic engine it was meant to be. That time is now.”
