Photos: Beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino in Rockford

July 12, 2023|By Kevin Haas|In Photo Gallery, 815 News, Trending, Business/development
Photos by Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Ringland-Johnson Construction secured the final steel beam into place Wednesday to mark the completion of the outer framework of the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford.

Full story: Hard Rock marks key construction milestone on path to 2024 opening

Hard Rock celebrated the milestone with a beam-raising ceremony. Here’s a look at images from the event:

Musician Miles Nielsen signs the final steel beam on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, before it was secured in place on the future Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick and Austin Savant of Ironworkers Local 498 look up as Peter Sliwa descends down on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, after the final beam for Hard Rock Casino was put in place. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Olivia Hernandez serves champagne on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at a beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick pose for a photo on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at a beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Nichole Kunde signs the final steel beam for the Hard Rock Casino on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Austin Savant, left, and Peter Sliwa of Ironworkers Local 498 prepare to fasten the final beam into place on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Austin Savant secures the final beam into place on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Sartori and Steve Summers of 95.3 The Bull listen to remarks on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, during a beam-raising ceremony for Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jon Lucas
Jon Lucas, chief operating officer of Hard Rock International, salutes Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, during a beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Mark Richeson, business manager for Ironworkers Local 498, signs the final steam beam for Hard Rock Casino Rockford on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the construction site. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Brent Johnson, CEO of Ringland-Johnson Construction, and Joe Emanuele, chief of design and development for Hard Rock International, give a toast Wednesday, July 12, 2023, during a beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Construction work continues on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, as Ringland-Johnson Construction works to build the future Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick and Wally Haas, executive director of Transform Rockford, pose for a photo Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at a beam-raising ceremony for Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
State Sen. Dave Syverson and state Rep. Maurice West pose for a photo on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, during a beam-raising ceremony for Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Austin Savant looks down at the crowd on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, after securing the final steel beam into place for the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Peter Sliwa hugs Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, after a beam-raising ceremony at the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Sartori of 95.3 The Bull looks on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, during remarks at a beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Hard Rock Rockford President Geno Iafrate reacts to a joke by Rick Nielsen on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, during a beam-raising ceremony for the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas