Broadway and Hip-Hop Stars Clash Over Times Square Casino Proposal in High-Stakes Hearing

By: Russ Spencer

In a dramatic collision of cultural worlds, Broadway’s theater owners and some of the biggest names in hip-hop squared off Wednesday over a contentious plan to open a casino in the heart of Times Square. The first official state hearing on the project — held at the site of the proposed venue, 1515 Broadway, home to the Minskoff Theatre and the long-running Disney musical The Lion King — drew fierce arguments from both sides, underscoring the high economic and symbolic stakes of the decision.

According to a report that appeared in The New York Post on Wednesday, the proposal is backed by a heavyweight partnership of Caesars Entertainment, SL Green Realty Corp., and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. On one side, Broadway League officials and local merchants warned of irreversible harm to the theater district’s character. On the other, supporters — including rap artist Fat Joe and radio personality Charlamagne tha God — painted the project as an unprecedented opportunity for jobs, investment, and community benefits.

In a coordinated show of opposition, 16 Broadway theaters lit up their iconic marquees and towering digital billboards with a blunt message: No Times Square Casino. The visual protest unfolded just before and during the public hearing, signaling the theater industry’s determination to push back against the proposal.

Jason Laks, president of the Broadway League, told The New York Post that a casino would “create a black hole in Times Square,” warning it would draw a different type of crowd, congest the area with traffic, and fuel crime and disorder. “It will bring traffic congestion, crime and chaos that we don’t need,” he said, adding that Broadway thrives on the unique appeal of live performance, not gambling halls.

The Broadway League’s concerns have been amplified by the No Times Square Casino Coalition, which includes theater operators, neighborhood associations, and local businesses who see the plan as a threat to the area’s delicate cultural ecosystem.

The backers of the casino project arrived at the hearing armed with celebrity muscle. Bronx-born rapper Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, took the microphone to praise the Caesars Palace Times Square concept. “I’m so excited about the project. New York City is the epicenter of entertainment,” Cartagena said, as quoted in The New York Post report. Having lost more than 200 pounds in recent years, the rapper emphasized that the plan would deliver nearly $100 million in benefit programs for under-served communities, including minority groups, and cited his own Latino heritage as a connection to the cause. “Times Square deserves the casino, deserves the jobs… I love to see you guys in Times Square,” he said.

Charlamagne tha God, born Lenard Larry McKelvey and host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program The Breakfast Club, also took the stage in support. Echoing Fat Joe’s enthusiasm, he framed the proposal as a chance to redefine the entertainment landscape of Times Square and deliver sustainable economic benefits.

Laks and other theater leaders were quick to note what they saw as an unfair advantage for the celebrity backers. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, Broadway stakeholders complained that the hearing was scheduled during matinee performances, limiting the ability of actors, stagehands, and other theater employees to attend and speak. Some also claimed that celebrity advocates for the casino were ushered to the front of the testimony line, sidelining other voices.

The hearing, overseen by the state-appointed Community Advisory Committee (CAC), featured more than 150 speakers, revealing a stark divide over the casino’s potential impact. While supporters focused on promises of job creation, infrastructure investment, and public programming, opponents feared the erosion of Times Square’s theatrical identity and the ripple effects on tourism patterns.

Bob Hofmann, vice president of the Shubert Organization — the largest owner of Broadway theaters — was among the sharpest critics. “We need storytelling — not slot machines,” he told the committee, underscoring the cultural mission of Broadway as incompatible with large-scale gambling.

Opposition groups have also cited research indicating that casinos can alter the social and economic profile of surrounding areas, potentially diverting spending away from existing entertainment and hospitality businesses.

Still, The New York Post report noted that the casino plan enjoys the backing of prominent figures outside the hip-hop world. Members of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network attended to express support, arguing that the economic development package tied to the project could address long-standing inequalities.

The Caesars Palace Times Square proposal faces a multi-tiered approval process. The first hurdle is securing support from at least four of the six members of the CAC. The committee’s composition is designed to ensure broad political oversight: representatives are appointed by the governor, mayor, Manhattan borough president, local state senator, assembly member, and city council member.

If the CAC signs off, the proposal moves to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board. This body has the authority to recommend up to three downstate casino licenses, with selections expected by December 1. From there, the state Gaming Commission will make the final determination on which bidders receive licenses by the end of the year.

The Post report emphasized that given the value of a Times Square location, the Caesars-Roc Nation-SL Green consortium is likely to be among the most closely watched applicants in the competition.

The casino’s backers argue that the project will deliver tangible economic benefits, including thousands of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a significant boost to local vendors. According to details shared at the hearing, the nearly $100 million in benefit programs would target housing, workforce training, and youth initiatives, while also supporting minority-owned businesses.

Critics, however, question whether the benefits are overstated and whether they would be equitably distributed. They also raise concerns about the potential displacement of smaller businesses and the effect on Times Square’s family-friendly reputation. As The New York Post reported, the Broadway League warns that a casino could become the district’s gravitational center, pulling attention — and dollars — away from theaters.

For many New Yorkers, the debate over a casino in Times Square is as much about symbolism as economics. Times Square has been reimagined multiple times over the past century — from the neon-lit entertainment mecca of the mid-20th century, to the crime-ridden nadir of the 1970s and ’80s, to the tourist-heavy, sanitized version of today. The question now is whether a casino represents progress, regression, or simply the next chapter in the district’s continual reinvention.

In the words of Laks, as reported by The New York Post, the issue boils down to identity. “Broadway is the beating heart of Times Square,” he said. “We don’t want that heart replaced by a slot machine.”

As the formal review process continues, both sides are expected to intensify their campaigns. The Broadway League and allied groups are likely to leverage their visibility and public goodwill, while the casino consortium will continue to highlight its promises of economic uplift and community investment.

In the end, the fate of the Caesars Palace Times Square proposal will be decided by a combination of political will, public sentiment, and the persuasiveness of each side’s case. With both theater marquees and celebrity advocates in play, the battle promises to remain one of the most closely watched development fights in recent New York City history.