ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – Hard Rock Opening Act, Rockford’s temporary casino at 610 N. Bell School Road, officially closed for good at 5 a.m., Monday.
But not all is lost.
In 17 days, the permanent Hard Rock Casino at 7801 E. State St., where the Clock Tower Resort once stood, will open its doors.
Rockford resident Tom Tendall was the last guest to walk out of the temporary casino Monday.
“I feel privileged to be part of it," Tendall said. "It’s been a really good experience.”
As the last of the more 1.5 million guests at the temporary casino since it opened in November 2021, Tendall was given the honor of locking the door for the last time.
Tendall also won a few dollars Sunday night, making his final visit well worth his time.
“We did good," he said. "Got a little bit of the money tonight, so that was a positive for me. The staff and the management here is professional—very nice.”
Officials now have their sights on Thursday, Aug. 29, the day the new casino will go live.
“Everybody’s a little bit sad—guests, team members, all night have said, ‘Man, it’s sad,’ but at the same time, everybody is excited to get the new one up and running,” Hard Rock Casino Rockford President Geno Iafrate said. "It’s all part of the process."
It’s been almost five years since Rockford aldermen voted 11-1 to roll the dice on a casino in the city. Iafrate remembers the scramble to get the temporary facility open.
“That was a whirlwind because when we took over this building, it was 107 days start to finish, to get this open,” he said.
After a series of pandemic-related supply delays, crews broke ground on the new casino in September 2022.
“Just under two years to build the big joint," Iafrate said.
In honor of the temporary casino’s last day the final jackpot was doubled Monday morning. That meant the $3,000 Lourdes Jaime won became $6,000. She also won tickets to see Brad Paisley Sunday, Sept. 1, at the new Hard Rock Live.
