Hard Rock Casino Rockford in Illinois is about to become significantly more accessible for residents who don’t drive or lack regular access to a vehicle or other transportation modes.
The Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD) will start serving the newly opened Hard Rock Casino on Sunday, September 1. According to RMTD officials, several bus routes will undergo slight adjustments to serve the casino, as well as Rockford University and the AMC movie theater along E. State St.
The changes come in response to ongoing feedback from riders and the community. RMTD believes these modifications will enhance access to employment, education, healthcare, and retail opportunities for residents, thus reducing transportation barriers for those who need it.
The Hard Rock Casino will be accessible via several bus lines, including the #11 E. State St., #18 Bell School Rd., #19 CherryVale Mall, #32 E State St., and #42 E. State St. routes.
Today marks the official opening of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, owned by Hard Rock International which is a subsidiary of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The grand opening is set for 3 p.m. local time. As the media tour concludes, eager guests are lining up to be among the first to try their luck on one of the casino’s 1,300 slot machines and 50 live dealer table games. The facility also features a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook and a poker room.
Although the Hard Rock Casino Rockford does not have an on-site hotel, it boasts six restaurants and bars, a Rock Shop filled with Hard Rock memorabilia, and the spacious 23,000-square-foot Hard Rock Live concert venue, which can host up to 2,000 guests for live performances. The venue is also available for meetings and event rentals.
Rockford, a city with a population of about 147,000, has a poverty rate above 21% despite having several affluent neighborhoods, according to the United States Census Bureau. The casino has already hired roughly 400 employees, which should help mitigate some of the city’s economic challenges.
Hard Rock is still looking to fill 33 positions, including roles like casino cage supervisor, bartenders, servers, table game dealers, cashiers, a poker room supervisor, security officers, floor attendants, and an assistant manager of casino operations.
The company has already established itself in the community by operating a temporary casino in town from November 2021 until earlier this month. This provisional gaming space generated millions in gaming tax revenue for the city and enabled Hard Rock to donate over $1 million to nearly 100 local charities and nonprofits over the past year.
Among the notable investors in Hard Rock Rockford is Rick Nielsen, the guitarist of Cheap Trick, an Illinois native who co-founded the band in Rockford in 1973. The casino’s entrance features the title of one of the band’s iconic songs, “I Want You to Want Me,” and greets visitors with a 62-foot guitar dedicated to Nielsen and Cheap Trick.
