August 29 Opening Date for Illinois’ Hard Rock Casino Rockford

Hard Rock Casino Rockford will debut on August 29, featuring a 62-foot guitar sculpture honoring Rick Nielsen. (Image: Courtesy of Rockford Casino)

American casino operator Hard Rock International has announced its permanent Hard Rock Casino Rockford venue is set to open from August 29 complete with a 62-foot sculpture themed around the guitar of legendary Cheap Trick frontman Rick Nielsen. 

An enterprise of the federally recognized Seminole Tribe of Florida, the operator opened its temporary Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act in November of 2021 some five months after being given permission to bring a gambling-friendly facility to the Illinois city of Rockford. 

This provisional operation hosts a pair of restaurants and a Hard Rock-branded shop as well as a casino destination with an array of approximately 640 electronic gaming tables and slots. 

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Exciting Entry

Hard Rock International revealed its $310 million Hard Rock Casino Rockford will replace this interim predecessor later in the month and open complete with more than 175,000 sq ft of gaming, entertainment, and hospitality space. The firm declared the coming facility is to additionally debut accommodating ‘a diverse array of attractions’ encompassing six restaurants, a branded shop, a poker room, and a casino housing roughly 1,300 slots and 50 gaming tables.

The Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International, Jon Lucas, disclosed his company’s soon-to-premiere Hard Rock Casino Rockford will have about 750 employees and furthermore house the Hard Rock Live Rockford entertainment venue. 

The experienced figure explained this amenity is to span 23,000 sq ft and be capable of accommodating as many as 2,000 people for a range of performances, beginning with an August 31 concert by American rock band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. 

“I'd like to thank the Rockford community and state of Illinois for welcoming Hard Rock International and our unique brand of world-class entertainment to the greater region,” Lucas said. 

“The economic impact of this casino will provide hundreds of new jobs and boost the entertainment options for anyone living near or visiting Rockford.”

Striking Statue

To further increase appeal, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s entrance is to be fronted by a giant statue depicting the custom-made checkerboard guitar utilized by Nielsen since the late 1970s. The first of these iconic instruments was manufactured in the nearby village of Wilmette by Hamer Guitars and subsequently played by the Rockford native as Cheap Trick rose to fame courtesy of songs such as I Want You, Stop This Game, and The Flame.

Rick Nielsen's checkerboard guitar will decorate the entrance to Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Image: Adam Gasson/Alamy)

Also known for his use of guitars with five necks, Nielsen has long been a supporter of the plan to bring a Las Vegas-style casino to the city of Rockford, which is home to almost 149,000 people. The 75-year-old musician is even scheduled to join others, including Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist Akon, on the bill of a special concert to help celebrate Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s opening. 

Musical Magnet

In further tribute to Nielsen, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s exterior is to be emblazoned with the lyrics to the hit 1977 Cheap Trick song I Want You To Want Me, while its bars and restaurants are to exhibit some of the actual guitars made famous by Rockford’s most famous resident.

“I’ve visited over half of the Hard Rock locations throughout the world and have seen my guitars in almost every one of them and now they’ve made it to Rockford,” Nielsen said. “I could not be more excited to showcase my collection of guitars with my Rockford neighbors, friends, and those visiting our region.”

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