Soloviev Group has set its sights on an integrated casino resort on Manhattan’s East Side, and the company has recently pitched a concept for a Light Up East Side project. Visuals brought to life the plans to have a public art installation as part of the gaming resort. For its bid, the company plans to build the project on six-acre land between 38th and 41st streets.
New York State is in the process of awarding three full-scale commercial gaming licenses for the downstate region. In January 2023, the Gaming Facility Location Board kicked off Request for Applications allowing interested parties to submit their proposals for review. Soloviev Group is one of those companies which first shared its plans in November last year.
Illuminating East of Manhattan
Earlier this year, Soloviev announced that for its New York City casino proposal, it has selected Mohegan Gaming, which is a gambling and hospitality unit run by the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut. Titled ‘Freedom Plaza’ the resort will feature a gambling venue, a 1,000-room hotel, two residential towers, and a Ferris wheel which will have a view of the East River.
In an attempt to sweeten its proposal and convince lawmakers to select it for a license, the company has recently unveiled renderings of a public art installation as part of the gaming resort. For the effort, Soloviev has teamed up with globally recognized artist Bruce Munro, who is popular for his immersive site-specific installations, to design the ‘Field of Light.’
One of the aims of the art installation is to pay tribute to New York’s enduring spirit but to also present meaningful opportunities for community engagement and educational programming. According to the artist, the art space will represent the boundless imagination and freedom to dream with the hope to inspire both young and old take something from it and pass it on to others.
Field of Light is set to include approximately 17,000 low-light, fibre-optic stemmed spheres that will provide a “painted landscape framed by the city’s iconic skyline and the East River waterfront.” It will open this winter and it is projected to cost around US$1.5 million, with the company funding the project via The Soloviev Foundation.
Competition is Fierce
However, it would be quite a difficult task for the company to get its hands on one of the three licenses. This is due to Resort World New York City and Empire City Casino being considered frontrunners. The two are already offering gambling options, and their expansion to full-scale gaming amenities will bring revenue quicker to the state. They also have plenty of community support.
With the two gaming establishments being almost nailed on for the two licenses, this essentially leaves the rest fighting for just one. In the meantime, experts such as Wells Fargo analyst Daniel Politzer believe Las Vegas Sands is also a favourite. The company intends to launch an integrated casino resort in Nassau County in Long Island if it gets a permit.
