New renderings have been revealed for the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square casino complex at 1515 Broadway in Midtown, Manhattan. Developed in a partnership between SL Green, Caesars Entertainment and Roc Nation, the $5.4 billion project would involve an office-to-hotel conversion of the existing 54-story skyscraper and include 992 guest rooms, a rooftop observatory, and hotel amenities in addition to the lower-level gaming facility. The property is located between West 44th and 45th Streets.
The project is competing with seven other casino proposals across New York City for three downstate gaming licenses that will be issued by the end of this year.
The below images were first seen on w42st.com and preview the street-level lobby for the hotel component, which will be located on the upper floors of Caesars Palace Times Square.
The hotel lobby interior. Rendering courtesy of MOTIV via SL Green.
The gaming facility will feature a separate lobby along Seventh Avenue, seen below. The gaming floor will be located above street level and will require guests to pass through a security check before entering. No gambling will be visible from the street.
The interior gaming lobby along the 7th Ave entrance. Rendering courtesy of MOTIV via SL Green.
A large glass dome will span the ceiling above the gaming tables with gilded columns and slot machines along the perimeter.
The glass-domed ceiling of the interior gaming floor at Caesars Palace Times Square. Rendering courtesy of MOTIV via SL Green.
A private gaming suite. Rendering courtesy of MOTIV via SL Green.
Guest rooms will come with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic skyline views.
A typical guest room. Rendering courtesy of MOTIV via SL Green.
“With Caesars Palace Times Square, we are bringing an elevated entertainment experience to the world’s greatest entertainment district,” said Brett Herschenfeld, project lead and executive vice president, SL Green Realty. “Caesars Palace Times Square will not look like a big Las Vegas casino. For example, we won’t have any gaming on the ground floor. Visitors will need to enter our lobby, go through security, and choose to move upstairs onto the gaming floor—raising the barrier to entry and helping make this an intentional destination for gaming, not a place for impulse gamblers.”
According to Herschenfeld, the development will forego retail space and will have fewer restaurants than a typical casino in an effort to encourage patronage of existing Times Square establishments. “The point of this project is to allow all of the small businesses, workers, hotels, Broadway theaters, and venues to benefit from the enormous economic potential of Manhattan’s first-ever live gaming facility,” he said.
The ground floor of Caesars Palace Times Square will include an interactive art display, a separate theater entrance, and lobbies for hotel guests and customers. The below rendering previews the new array of LED displays that would cover the lower levels of the structure.
Caesars Palace Times Square. Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios via SL Green.
An expansive terrace with an outdoor bar would be positioned on the setback between the LED displays, providing visitors panoramic views of Times Square and the New Year’s Eve ball drop.
Caesars Palace Times Square. Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios via SL Green.
The final rendering below depicts the hotel entrance along West 45th Street next to Shubert Alley.
Caesars Palace Times Square. Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios via SL Green.
The development team expects the property to generate more than $7 billion in tax revenue in its first decade. The project is also projected to create 3,800 permanent jobs and generate $26 billion in spillover revenue to nearby hotels, theaters, restaurants, and retailers. In addition, the proposal includes an $81 million public safety plan that will be developed in consultation with former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
If successful in securing a gaming license, the developers plan to commit $5 million to the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center for the LGBTQ+ community. Of this sum, $2 million would support Callen-Lorde’s existing services in Chelsea, while the remaining contribution would go toward the establishment of a new Center for Excellence in Sexual Health in Hell’s Kitchen.
The process for securing the gaming license begins with an approval from the six-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC), with votes due by September 30, 2025. Projects that receive a two-thirds majority will be allowed to advance to the final evaluation by the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board, which will then award the three downstate licenses by the end of this year.
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At least this proposal is in a reasonable place. Others include Jamaica, Ferry Point Park (Whitestone Bridge) in the south Bronx, Coney Island, and Flushing Meadows. Having a casino in a remote area seems to be inviting failure.
There are only two places for a casino in NYC. Times Square and Coney Island.
The theatre owners are being dense, people will always go to broadway this will only increase it.
The only thing we need to do is ban all logos from the top of buildings.
I agree with James. There should be a major upgrade to TS subway station included in this project like 57th st and 6th from the super tall planned for 57th st next to #9 W.
Basically makes sense, but the Caesar’s brand is not what it used to be given the issues with their Las Vegas property.
Pretty shocked there aren’t any improvements to public transit mandated for this big of an investment. Time square, while efficient, could use a face lift.
Well we did get that 30 million entrance a few years back.
Has an architect been named for this development? Cline Bettridge Bernstein is a lighting consultant, and we would be very interested in being part of the design team for this development. The renderings are great – to whom would we reach out to express interest? Thanks in advance!
no retail is really weird but this is the only acceptable location imo, glad to see the developers are highlighting the high barrier to entry to prevent impulse gambling. also times square needs more hotels anyway
This proposal fits our apparently dystopian future.
I wanted the flying car future. Instead we got the Biff Tannen future.
Alternate 1985 can’t end soon enough.
Location wise, this makes sense and with the building already in place, tax revenue to the city and state would be much faster than all other proposals. However, I have to wonder how a conversion of an existing skyscraper is nearly double the estimated cost to build 270 Park Ave.
This is also one of the most hideous buildings in NYC (IMHO), so maybe some lipstick will help.
I think this is one of the best proposals out of the eight contenders. Would be a good building reside and adaptation
Of the proposed Manhattan locations, this one makes the most sense for hotel/entertainment complex. Using an existing building (not zoned nor suitable for housing) will have the negligible adverse environmental impact on the surrounding neighborhood and may actually elevate quality of life conditions in the immediate area. Broadway theater owners are underestimating the positive impacts the addition of a high end gaming facility will have on drawing new theater goers. That said, the proposal faces strong opposition from the Hell’s Kitchen residential community one block west. And the CAC? They seem opposed to the concept of ANY gaming facility in Manhattan. Good luck to SL Green, Roc Nation, and Ceasars.
This development has its positives, including aiding commercial real estate in the area; however, this will cause a steep increase in crime in the TS district.
1. No funds for mass transit? Outrageous.
2. Replaces Minskoff Theater, with 1,400 seats. That’s one of the biggest theaters and currently has the Lion King.
3. No new construction, just renovations.
4. With Yonkers and Belmont sites almost sure things, the third one should be next to the Mets.
The theater stays. Long live lion King!
Belmont? Huh?
Maybe the commenter meant Aqueduct?
Adaptive reuse is always the greenest option, and just plunking a hotel and casino with not much else into Times Square makes the most sense. Money for upgrading the subway station must be required for approval. I’ve never liked this ugly building, and so an ugly casino is the perfect marriage. This gets my vote.
Agree… Easily one of the ugliest buildings in Midtown, if not all of NYC.
I do feel like something more drastic should be proposed to improve the cosmetics of this tired old office building. What they are proposing isn’t enough, it needs an entire reclad. Those awful sharkfins at the top just cannot continue.
AGREE! The sharkfin crown is just hideous. If they’re spending $5 billion, you’d think a reclad is included. 270 Park Ave only cost $3 billion.
It’s already impossible to walk in Times Square, and the TS subways are a total mess. A 1K room hotel along with all the gamblers who visit will only make this part of the city more overcrowded and unappealing. 1515 is ugly and I wouldn’t miss it, but I can’t imagine adding more traffic, pedestrians and visitors to TS. No property should be built in the city without a plan for major transportation upgrades and foot traffic.
I agree with the need for transit and transportation upgrades – and that this tower is ugly AF – but the idea that the added human brought to Times Square are going to somehow cripple it is completely absurd. Sorry.
Reading a lot of comments about additional traffic in Times Square, which I’d argue may not be the case. Many of those gamblers will be the same tourist visiting for a long weekend to see a show, dine and do other touristy things. Now they will just have an additional activity to consider.
Anybody who would seriously suggest this casino would bring crippling traffic to TS is just not worth taking seriously.
Serious question here and someone please help me understand:
Of the eight places that are competing for one of three gaming license, some places like Resorts World already have gambling operations on their property. Why would they need another gaming license? Seems unfair. Unless gaming licenses expire and they need to apply again?
I believe they are different license which will allow more types of games
I love this location. My only concern is does that mean juniors is no longer there?
A question for Junior’s?
They opened a much larger Juniors a few blocks from here, so I’m surprised the one here remains open.
This is the most logical choice for a Manhattan casino by far. Hudson Yards is already out, and the remaining two options are in Hell’s Kitchen (ridiculous) and next to the UN (even more ridiculous). I’m vehemently opposed to the latter due Soloviev effectively speculating on that empty pit for decades. I vomit in my mouth a little every time I hear about their rebranded “Freedom Plaza” like they are some sort of community proponent.
Ditto
Pizza! Pizza!
Why not the flat iron building on 23rd Street and 5th avenue? There’s a subway stop already there and a large park across the street and it would bring a lot more visitors to New York without the same hassle
The tiny weird shaped floor plates are impractical and undesirable for casino gaming. And that’s just one reason.
I think I’d rather have no NYC casino, but foot traffic in TS is apparently down compared to pre-pandemic, so I’m not opposed to this.
Am I the ONLY one who is shocked by the price tag ($5.5 BILLION!)…
The Burj Khalifa was built at a cost of $1.5Billion (opened in 2010) – one of the most awesome buildings on the planet!
-yes slave labor costs R a bit lower than Teamsters but….seriously- that is some DEEP gravy train!
NO infrastructure improvements ( as someone pointed out).
So you spend $3 BILLION on the build?- where is the other $2.5 BILLION!?- Let’s guess shall we?! …Aaaannnddd, it’s gone!
This is the best proposal.
It’s Times Square, an entertainment district. Makes the most sense. Glad to see others agree.
There’s so much foot traffic and activity in that area the casino will be just another major venue but will never dominate.
This is the best place and the fastest turn around since the building is already built. The others will take decades to build. But needs to upgrade Times Square subway stations.
well this is the most sensible place for a full casino, no one can argue that. i hope queens gets the other one, not coney. but really who cares about that one.