Hard Rock’s August numbers illustrate high interest in casino’s Rockford debut
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Hard Rock Casino Rockford netted its second-highest total admissions in August despite spending 17 days closed that month.
The monthly figures reported by the Illinois Gaming Board help illustrate the turnout during Hard Rock’s grand-opening weekend, which featured a lineup of nationally touring musical acts to pair with the long-awaited debut of the 175,000-square foot casino and entertainment venue.
Long lines of people waited outside the casino before the doors opened after 3 p.m. Aug. 29.
Related: Rockford sets out plan for spending new wave of Hard Rock Casino revenue
The casino had 57,047 admissions in August, according to data released this week by the Illinois Gaming Board. The most monthly admissions Hard Rock has had since opening its interim casino nearly three years ago was 58,379 in March.
Specific grand-opening weekend numbers haven’t been released. The data comes from the gaming board’s regular monthly reporting.
Those numbers account for three days — Aug. 29, 30 and 31 — at the new casino at 7801 E. State St. in Rockford. Hard Rock also operated for 12 days at its interim casino at 610 N. Bell School Road before closing Aug. 12 to prepare for the move.
“Those three days, every time I drove by — my goodness it was packed, and their parking lots have continued to be full,” said John Groh, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “I hope that it’s foretelling of strong visitation going forward.”
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Hard Rock will create positive exposure for Rockford, drawing people in from around the region, Groh said. It will also drive further investment in the eastern gateway to the city at Interstate 90 and East Street
“They’re going to be a magnet for additional development, which will serve to positively enhance that gateway,” Groh said. “More investment, additional hotels, additional entertainment venues, additional service businesses.”
The casino had more than 1.5 million admissions from its opening on Nov. 10, 2021, through the end of August. It also generated more than $181.3 million in gambling revenue during that time, according to Illinois Gaming Board data. That’s about $115 per admission.
The casino also generated about $10.6 million in local tax revenue during that time, 70% of which goes to the city of Rockford with Winnebago County receiving 20% and Loves Park and Machesney Park each sharing 5%.
Rockford now will receive a guaranteed $7 million annually with the opening of the new casino. City Council members are weighing a plan for using that money now.
The casino includes nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games, seven restaurants a poker room, a sportsbook, seven restaurants, a shop for Hard Rock merchandise, roughly 150 items of memorabilia on display and a 1,600-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue.
Future phases of the development include a tower hotel on the northeast side of the property. A timeline for that has not been set.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
