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Rick Nielson’s Rockford casino gambit pays off

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Illinois

[Rockford] Mayor Tom McNamara said that he recommended to the City Council Monday that Hard Rock Casino should receive the city’s only casino license.

McNamara said Forest City Casino’s application for a far east side casino has uncertainties and Gorman and Co. had no casino operator for a downtown site.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford will be located at the former Clock Tower Resort property on 25 acres at 7801 E. State St. Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, would house a temporary casino until the Hard Rock Casino is built.

Hard Rock International is proposing a casino with 1,500 slot machines and 55 table games, a Hard Rock Café and 1,600-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue at the I-90 exit. […]

“It’s going to be cool,” [Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, an investor in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford project] said.

Hard Rock has pledged a minimum $7 million payment to the city every year. The Illinois Gaming Board still has to sign off.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 30, 19 @ 4:39 pm

Comments

“Ooh baby need some brand new shoes.”

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Sep 30, 19 @ 4:57 pm
Surrender….. Yay

Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 30, 19 @ 5:28 pm
They’re not going to call it “Hard Rockford”?

Comment by Required Monday, Sep 30, 19 @ 6:36 pm
Pledged? Get it in writing.

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Sep 30, 19 @ 6:36 pm
No “o” in Nielsen.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 30, 19 @ 10:30 pm
Has Gorman ever built a casino, anywhere? Surprised they were even being considered

Comment by Rudiforte Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 5:29 am
The Bun E Carlos bingo parlor and weed shop will go up around the corner.

Comment by Hello there, So good To See You Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:37 am
The poor gonna be poorer. To each their own I guess

Comment by E Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 7:43 am
This is more than just another Cheap Trick to get a casino.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 8:19 am
There is more to this story. Gorman states it does have a casino operator and funding which it told the city last week. CSM Group out of Nevada is the operator. Gorman also has a specific monetary investor. And, Forest City’s (the other applicant) funding uncertainties apparently extend only to the additional retail it wants; not the casino or hotel. Considering that Hard Rock isn’t initially committing to either a hotel or a full-size casino for Rockford (and it HAS the money to do so) drawing any line in the sand is questionable. None of these applicants has any casino experience except Luna(FC) which is limited, and Hard Rock which probably wouldn’t even consider Rockford if not for Rick. Rockford HARDLY fits in with the siting criteria for the rest of Hard Rock’s 12 casinos, and Hard Rock itself seems to be hedging on the expectations of profitability in Rockford. Beloit’s casino plans 2,000 + slots and will dominate the area. Rockford’s mayor has only the city to blame. Hard Rock’s interest didn’t originate from the city’s solicitation to only 12 casino industry sources (compare that to Danville’s mailing list of 50 nationwide.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 12:22 pm