During the construction of the Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s permanent casino location, Hard Rock operated in Rockford, Illinois, from a temporary location on 610 N. Bell School Road. Ahead of the opening of the permanent casino, the leading gaming and entertainment company confirmed the closure of the temporary location.

The temporary venue closed its doors on Monday, August 12, 2024. A range of closing festivities accompanied the event, including Midnight Madness Hot Seat giveaways throughout the night, as well as the doubling of the last jackpot up to $10,000. The winner of the last jackpot also won two free Brad Paisley tickets for the concert that will recognize the grand opening of Hard Rock Casino Rockford ahead of Labor Day.

Earlier this summer, Hard Rock confirmed that its permanent Rockford casino will open on August 29. At the start of the month, the company reiterated its plans, confirming that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will open on the aforementioned date, ahead of Labor Day.

The permanent location is near the temporary venue. It is located just off I-90 at 7801 E. State Street in Rockford. Hard Rock Casino Rockford will offer more than 175,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space. Moreover, the permanent location will deliver food and beverage, as well as hospitality options.

Visitors to the permanent location who have Players Club membership will benefit from seamless experiences thanks to the transfer of the membership from the temporary to the permanent location. This will enable them to continue benefiting from special privileges and ensure access to rewards. To elevate the excitement, Hard Rock’s permanent casino will honor restaurant certificates and gift cards purchased at the temporary venue.

The Permanent Casino Will Bring Many Amenities, Large Gaming Floor

Geno Iafrate, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s president, spoke earlier this month about the success the temporary venue enjoyed. He revealed that the temporary casino welcomed guests from all 50 states, as well as DC, and more than 30 different countries across the globe.

Overall, according to Iafrate, 1.5 million people visited the temporary casino since it opened its doors late in 2021. “The time has come for the Opening Act to become the headliner just down the street,” he added.

Iafrate said that the permanent Hard Rock Casino Rockford would offer a sportsbook, 50 live table games and close to 1,300 slot machines. He predicted the temporary casino would become a top entertainment location for the Midwest, offering not only gaming but a range of other amenities, including shopping and food and beverage outlets.

In a recent interview for Fox 39, Iafrate said that many of the casino visitors found it sad to see the temporary venue close. Yet, he said they are excited about the upcoming opening of the permanent casino.

Delayed due to the pandemic, the construction of the permanent casino has taken approximately two years. Hard Rock Casino Rockford has a price tag of a staggering $310 million.

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Hard Rock International, the global gaming and entertainment brand, announced that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will open its permanent location for visitors this summer. The venue has been operating from a temporary location at 610 N. Bell School Road since November 2021.

However, starting from August 29, 2024, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s permanent venue at 7801 E. State Street in Rockford will welcome its first visitors. A grand opening ceremony will maintain Hard Rock’s tradition with a star-studded Guitar Smash.

The first visitors of the new gaming and entertainment destination in Rockford will be able to enter at around 3 PM on the same day the grand opening ceremony will be held. Hard Rock Casino Rockford is expected to offer a massive gaming, entertainment and hospitality space that surpasses 175,000 square feet.

Visitors of the premium gaming and entertainment venue can expect 50 live table games, a sportsbook, as well as a poker room. Unsurprisingly, the casino floor will offer a wide range of some of the most popular slot machines. Overall, there will be close to 1,300 slot machines, promising unforgettable experiences.

Besides gaming, visitors to the Hard Rock Casino Rockford can expect a wide range of amenities and attractions. The list includes a brand-new Hard Rock Live entertainment venue that uses 23,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 2,000 guests for different events such as concerts. Additionally, there will be a Rock Shop and several restaurants, among other entertainment outlets.

The Upcoming Opening Brings Excitement to Hard Rock’s Team

Geno Iafrate, Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s president, praised the efforts of the company’s members who supported it at its temporary site. Moreover, he said seeing new Hard Rock employees join the team at the permanent venue will be exciting. “It’s been 30 years in the making for Rockford and the wait is over. We are excited to welcome guests to our house to showcase and expand the legendary Hard Rock brand,” said Iafrate in conclusion.

“I’d like to thank the Rockford community and State of Illinois for welcoming Hard Rock and our unique brand of world-class entertainment to the greater region.“

Jon Lucas, chief operating officer at Hard Rock International

Jon Lucas, Hard Rock International’s chief operating officer, was just as delighted about the latest announcement. He thanked Illinois and the community in Rockford that accepted the arrival of the iconic Hard Rock brand.

Lucas spoke about the significant economic impact the new casino will bring by creating hundreds of new jobs. Additionally, the executive predicted that Hard Rock Casino Rockford will boost tourism in the area. Finally, Lucas said that it is exciting to see the new casino join Hard Rock’s growing portfolio of more than 300 venues across the globe.

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Hard Rock prepares for the launch of its new Rockford property in August and announced it plans to hire 400 more people.

As reported by the Rock River Current, an Illinois and Wisconsin-focused news outlet, Hard Rock Casino Rockford has many available management positions in food and beverage service, casino operations, transportation, retail, warehouse and other key areas of its operation. The company offers supervisor salaries of over $50,000 a year and manager salaries of over $70,000 a year.

In addition, a multitude of positions in casino operators are available. The company is looking for drivers, cashiers, security personnel, technicians and dealers, among others, offering starting pay of $18 an hour for non-tipped workers and $10-16 an hour for tipped staff.

A variety of other employees, such as chefs, cooks, bartenders, servers and hosts, among others, are also needed.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford is preparing to host workforce readiness workshops next year and run hiring events in the summer of 2024. Management positions will be officially posted in March. Supervisor positions, on the other hand, will be posted in April. Other job opportunities will become available in May.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford Wants to Hire “Rock Stars”

Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s president, Geno Iafrate, commented on the company’s workforce needs, saying that “the thing about the Hard Rock is it’s not just about filling the position, it’s about putting rock stars in the position.”

Iafrate admitted that hiring 400 people is no easy task, which is why it is never too early to start reaching out to the community. Through community connection events, the company will get the opportunity to meet the right people and find the exact “rock stars” it is looking for.

We want world-class hospitality folks. That doesn’t mean you have to have 25 years of hospitality experience. You have to have the right heart. You have to have a servant’s heart to work in the entertainment and in the hospitality space. We’ll teach you everything else.

Geno Iafrate, president, Hard Rock Casino Rockford

Hard Rock is already employing 350 people at its A Hard Rock Opening Act property, a temporary venue where people can play before work on the permanent Hard Rock Casino Rockford is complete. The permanent casino will thus have a total of 750 employees.

The final property will sport a spectacular 65,000 square feet gaming area that will be packed with 1,300 slots, 44 live gaming tables, 6 poker tables and a sportsbook. In addition to that, Hard Rock Casino Rockford will have a variety of food and beverage locations, as well as a 1,600-seat entertainment hall.

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In July 2019, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill expanding land-based gambling options for the state, granting approval for six new casinos. The international giant and leading gaming and entertainment company, Hard Rock secured a license, allowing it to construct and develop a new Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Consequently, the company opened a temporary casino location in Rockford, while the construction of Hard Rock Casino Rockford started.

Now, as reported by RockRiverCurrent, after securing approval, allowing it to extend its operations through November 9, 2024, from the Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday, the company released renderings, unveiling new details regarding the upcoming Hard Rock Casino Rockford.

The brand-new casino is expected to offer plenty of gambling entertainment options. Such would include six live poker tables, 44 live table games, as well as some 1,300 electronic gaming machines. Fans of sports betting would also have the option to place a wager via the brand-new sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Rockford.

Opening Expected Late Summer of 2024

Geno Iafrate, Hard Rock Rockford’s president, thanked the gambling regulator in Illinois for their efforts and continuous support for this project. He explained that developing a casino location in Rockford had been a dream for the company for more than two decades.

Iafrate said that the progress on the permanent casino is evident for anyone passing by on I-90, which further helps build the excitement. He explained that Hard Rock Casino Rockford is expected to open its doors in late summer of next year. Finally, Iafrate said: “Hard Rock will deliver on its promise of a premium destination casino that will be well worth the wait.”

“Hard Rock Casino Rockford thanks the Illinois Gaming Board for its continued commitment to work with us in building the casino facility Rockford has dreamed about for more than 20 years.“

Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Rockford

In addition to the gaming floor, the new location is expected to offer plenty of other amenities. Visitors to the permanent casino resort location will be able to enjoy Hard Rock Café, as well as an entertainment venue called Hard Rock Live applicable for multi-use and offering 1,600 seats. Moreover, visitors would be able to enjoy the Plum VIP Lounge, as well as the Council Oak Restaurant.

Being close to I-90 will greatly help with access to the new Hard Rock Casino Rockford. At the same time, guest parking will feature approximately 1,800 spaces, allowing thousands of visitors to enjoy the new casino. Last but not least, judging by the recently released renderings, visitors to Hard Rock Casino Rockford will be greeted by a 90-foot tall checkerboard guitar replica of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rick Nielsen, positioned at the front entrance.

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