Metropolitan Park , the $8 billion pitch from Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock to transform the area around Citi Field into a gaming and resort complex, unanimously passed a key committee vote on Tuesday that sends it to the final round of the state casino license contest .

The 6-0 vote by a Community Advisory Committee of local stakeholders confirms the project as a frontrunner in the race to secure one of up to three lucrative downstate casino licenses on offer from New York State.

It joins three other proposals that survived from an initial pool of eight. Resorts World in Jamaica and Empire City in Yonkers, both established racinos, advanced last week and are seen as likely contenders, while the Bally’s Bronx application was approved on Monday.

Tuesday’s vote is a vi

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