The Illinois Gaming Board recently gave Hard Rock Casino Rockford the green light to start construction site preparation, including dirt-moving, laying the foundation, grading, storm sewers and other preliminary work. The activity will start September 15 and continue through the end of the year.
A Hard Rock spokesman said, “We continue to work with the gaming board on the remainder of the process to seek complete approval that will allow us to construct our permanent facility.”
The permanent, 180,000-square-foot casino resort will offer a 250-room hotel, several dining options and the 1,800-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue.
Meanwhile, the temporary Hard Rock casino, located inside the former Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, has generated $38.9 million since opening on November 10, according to Illinois Gaming Board figures. Of that total, $2.3 million went to the local government in tax revenue.
