Rockford’s journey towards a vibrant entertainment future is reaching a milestone with the impending transition from the Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act in northern Illinois to its permanent location at 7801 E. State Street. The temporary facility at 610 N. Bell School Road is scheduled to close its doors on August 12, 2024, at 5:00 A.M., making way for the grand opening of the new site on August 29, 2024.
A grand finale and a fresh start:
On its final operational day, the temporary casino is set to offer a series of celebratory events. The casino promises to double the last jackpot, offering up to $10,000, and will gift the lucky winner two complimentary tickets to a Brad Paisley concert scheduled for Labor Day weekend. The excitement continues with a Midnight Madness Hot Seat Giveaway event that will last throughout the night, culminating in a memorable moment where the last patron will lock the front doors, symbolically ending an era.
The new Hard Rock Casino, conveniently located off the I-90 State Street exit, spans over 175,000 square feet of dedicated gaming space, entertainment, and hospitality. This world-class facility boasts nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games, including poker, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The venue also features a variety of dining options, shopping venues, and the highly anticipated Hard Rock Live, a concert venue designed to host up to 2,000 guests.
Geno Iafrate, President of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, expressed his enthusiasm for the transition, stating, “The Opening Act has welcomed over 1.5 million guests from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 30 countries worldwide since opening its doors in November of 2021. The time has come for the Opening Act to become the headliner just down the street,” according to news agency WREX 13.
Economic and community impact:
As the Rockford Register Star reports, the development of the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford has been a significant undertaking, long advocated by local leaders like the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Tom MacNamara. This endeavor is seen as a pivotal move to attract visitors, create jobs, and boost local tax revenues. The temporary casino alone generated over $69 million in revenue in its second full year, reaching a record-breaking revenue month in March 2024 and providing employment to more than 350 individuals.
Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International, highlighted the broader benefits of the new casino in the company’s press release, “I’d like to thank the Rockford community and State of Illinois for welcoming Hard Rock and our unique brand of world-class entertainment to the greater region. The economic impact of this casino will provide hundreds of new jobs and boost the entertainment options for anyone living near or visiting Rockford. We are thrilled to welcome this new property to our global portfolio of over 300 Hard Rock venues.”
As the countdown to the grand opening continues, the city of Rockford prepares to embrace a new chapter in its entertainment and economic narrative, ready to shine as a beacon of hospitality and excitement in the Midwest.