UNIONDALE, NY (TIP):  The Las Vegas Sands Corporation has entered into a deal to purchase the lease for the Nassau Coliseum and its surrounding property and, if approved by the state, build a casino on the site, says a Patch report. The company announced the multi-billion-dollar deal Thursday, January 12. It plans to build a large hospitality, entertainment and casino complex on the site.

“Our company’s track record of driving significant economic benefits to the communities in which we operate and the meaningful relationships and partnerships we have created in each of those communities gives us a unique perspective on what it takes to develop transformative tourism destinations that positively impact the local community. Based on that experience, we strongly believe Long Island can be home to one of the region’s great entertainment and hospitality developments,” said Robert G. Goldstein, Sands chairman and CEO. “Our announcement today is only the first part of this journey. Our ability to put forward a compelling and competitive proposal will only succeed if we engage with the Long Island community and, in collaboration, develop a proposal that reflects the input of all those involved.”

The drive for the casino comes from a decision by the state to add three casinos in the downstate area. A casino at the Hub area is still not a done deal. The state has said no determinations or licenses are expected until late 2023 at the earliest.

However, Sands has big plans for the site, regardless of whether a casino is approved. The resort portions of the site would include outdoor community space, four- and five-star hotel rooms and a performance venue that “honors the legacy” of performances at Nassau Coliseum. Sands said the resort would also feature celebrity chef restaurants, experiential events and flexible meeting and convention spaces. The casino, if approved, would be less than a tenth of the project’s total square footage, Sands said.

The Hub site in Uniondale was suggested to Sands by former Gov. David Paterson, who is a senior vice president with the Sands Corporation. “I will always consider Hempstead my home, so it is with great pride that I have a leadership role working with this great community on this transformational project,” he said. “We are committed to bringing opportunities for small businesses to thrive, career paths in multiple disciplines for our local residents, innovative approaches for minority and women-owned businesses, thousands of union jobs, and an understanding of our obligation to partner and communicate our vision for the future.” Sands said it will work with RXR Realty, which owns a large piece of property across the street from the Coliseum, to create a plan for the development that “maximizes economic opportunity, helps to build stronger communities, and protects the quality of life for all Long Islanders.”

“After nearly two decades of working to transform the Nassau Coliseum site, including countless hours meeting with thousands of community members, the message has been overwhelmingly clear that Long Islanders want a global renowned entertainment destination that creates well-paying jobs and new opportunities at the Nassau Hub. But the challenge for turning this vision into reality has always been the commercial viability of a site encumbered by a nearly obsolete half-century-old arena,” said Scott Rechler, CEO and chairman of RXR. “The plan envisioned by Sands is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create the kind of world-renowned entertainment and hospitality destination that has been sought after by Long Islanders.”

In recent years, the Nassau Hub has been the source of much debate and many different proposals. More than a decade ago, Rechler and former Islanders owner Charles Wang tried to get The Lighthouse Project built at the site. It would have redeveloped the Hub with a new sporting/entertainment venue, as well as a hotel and other amenities and businesses. That plan, however, was squashed by the Town of Hempstead, which has control of zoning of the parcel.

A few years later, Bruce Ratner took over the site and completely renovated the Coliseum, officially rebranding it NYCB Live, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. When the renovated Coliseum was revealed, Ratner said he hoped it would become “the Eiffel Tower of Long Island.” Under the Sands plan, it’s unclear what would happen to the Coliseum. In announcing the plan, Sands said it would honor the site’s legacy as a veteran’s memorial and pay tribute to Long Island service members, but did not say what would become of the Coliseum itself.

“The entire Sands team is excited for the opportunity to help bring this vision to reality and we are ready to work in a serious and transparent manner with the local community in an effort to bring an exciting new industry to Long Island,” said Goldstein.