Illinois: Hard Rock Casino Rockford celebrates grand opening with signature guitar smash

The new Hard Rock Casino Rockford opened its doors to the public at 3:00 PM Thursday, following a star-studded grand opening event. The new 175,000-square-foot casino, which comes with a $300 million price tag, is located just off the I-90 State Street exit in Rockford, Illinois, and took two years of construction.

The Rockford casino's grand opening celebration featured an array of events including pyrotechnics, Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen's talent, the Chicago Blackhawks national anthem singer Jim Cornelison, and a tribute to 10 World War II veterans all over 100 years old. The festivities concluded with Hard Rock's signature "guitar smash."

"Ninety percent of our investor group has local roots — no private equity," Dan Fischer, Chief Investor of 815 Entertainment, told the Rockford Register. 815 Entertainment is the local company that brought Hard Rock to Rockford. "When you look at this place, it was built with people who put in real money," he added.

The entertainment complex includes nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games including poker, a sportsbook, and a 1,600-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue. Moreover, the destination offers seven eateries, from casual dining to upscale options.

Meanwhile, the Rock Shop offers a variety of custom Hard Rock branded merchandise, and dozens of authentic music memorabilia items decorate and fill the display cases throughout the casino, "each with a classic story of its unique place in entertainment history."

The opening event hosted Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Hard Rock International COO Jon Lucas, Rockford native and Houston Rocket point guard Fred Van Vleet, Seminole Tribe of Florida Council Members, Rockford notables, and special guests.

"It's an incredible feeling to finally welcome guests to Hard Rock Casino Rockford. The opening of this incredible entertainment powerhouse is the culmination of hard work, dedication, and a shared vision," said Geno Iafrate, President of Hard Rock Casino Rockford. "We've worked tirelessly to bring this world-class facility to life, and we're excited to offer guests a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience right here in Rockford."

"Rockford is celebrating a huge win today with the opening of the long-awaited and much-desired casino. Hard Rock delivered on every promise from its initial bid nearly five years ago to the opening of its temporary location and its commitment to the Rockford community," said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. "As the doors to the permanent casino open, I'm thrilled to welcome our residents and visitors to this incredible facility full of world-class gaming, dining, and entertainment."

The opening weekend celebration continues with a concert lineup:

• Friday, August 30: Akon
• Saturday, August 31: Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
• Sunday, September 1: Brad Paisley

Concerts will be performed in the Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, a 23,000-square-foot space designed to host a variety of performances. With a capacity of up to 2,000 guests, Hard Rock says that this venue is set "to become a premier destination for live entertainment in the region." The upcoming Hard Rock Live events at the Rockford casino can be found on its website's events page.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he was proud the Rockford casino opened before one could open across the border in Wisconsin. Hard Rock already created 1,200 construction jobs and 900 permanent jobs, Pritzker said, but hundreds more could be created when a hotel is built on the site within a few years.

"Already this casino is paying dividends for this region," Rockford Register quoted Pritzker as saying. "Since opening the temporary facility here in 2021, the Hard Rock has generated nearly $40 million in state and local revenue, much of which comes from visitors to the region, from outside the region who are enjoying themselves while contributing revenue that helps alleviate the burden on Rockford and Winnebago County taxpayers."