NY: County committee greenlights Sands for Nassau Coliseum lease and environmental review

The Rules Committee of the Nassau County Legislature has unanimously voted to allow Las Vegas Sands to operate the Nassau Coliseum for the next 42 years. This decision also paves the way for an environmental review of a potential casino resort on the property.

Las Vegas Sands had previously proposed a $6 billion development for the 72-acre Coliseum site in Uniondale, contingent on obtaining one of three highly competitive state gambling licenses next year. 

During a special committee meeting attended by over 100 public speakers on Monday, county legislators advanced Sands' bid to control the site and agreed to lead the state-mandated environmental review process, known as SEQRA, reports  Newsday. 

Following the environmental review, a separate 99-year lease allowing Sands to build on the site will be presented for another legislative vote. The full legislature, comprising 19 members, is expected to vote on these measures on August 5.

Sands officials argue that the 42-year operational lease is essential for managing the Coliseum, booking events, and securing over 400 jobs. The company has held temporary occupancy permits for the Coliseum since late 2023.

Tracey Edwards, Sands' Senior Vice President, stated that the company “remains deeply appreciative of the broad-based support that we have received and the coalition of civic and community leaders, small business organizations, and labor unions that are standing with us for this transformational project for Long Island.”

This vote follows a court order from State Supreme Court Justice Sarika Kapoor, who ruled in favor of Hofstra University against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the county Legislature, and the county Planning Commission. The court mandated that the county complete an environmental review before entering a lease agreement with Sands, thus forcing the company to redo the process.

Democratic Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton was the sole committee member to vote against the lease, consistent with her previous opposition to transferring the Coliseum lease to Sands. Representatives from Hofstra University and some local residents, particularly those from the "Say NO to the Casino" civic association, have been vocal opponents of Sands' casino-resort project.

Monica Kiely, a member of "Say NO to the Casino," voiced concerns about the county not considering alternative projects for the site and pointed out that the lease allows Sands to sublet the Coliseum or cease operations after two years. She argued that this arrangement could limit future opportunities for the site for up to 42 years.

Hofstra spokesperson Terry Coniglio emphasized that both leases should be considered together, asserting that Sands' primary interest in the Coliseum is to promote their casino plans. In contrast, labor leaders highlighted the potential creation of 8,500 jobs through the casino-resort project. 

John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, argued against rejecting the project, while Matthew Aracich, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties, framed it as a labor issue, emphasizing the creation of middle-class jobs.

“The whole goal here is to ensure that we can still create middle-class jobs without going ahead and making problems for others," Durso said. "If it was 400 professor jobs, we'd be fighting for them too. This isn't an issue we are only taking for Sands, this is a labor issue.”