Rockford Sun

Rockford is on its way to being home to a new Hard Rock Casino.

The development comes after the Illinois Gaming Board OK'd the preliminary suitability study.

The board's approval moves 815 Entertainment's application to build the casino closer to happening, however, it will also allow Hard Rock to create a temporary location at Giovanni's on North Bell School Road.

"We are grateful to the state and the Illinois Gaming Board for their support and for allowing this process to get one step closer to reality," Hard Rock International COO Jon Lucas said in a statement, WREX reported.

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said that the company will still need to submit architectural plans for the temporary location, and it will take time to get things into place, WREX reported.

The project is expected to cost $310 million and employ approximately 1,200 workers in the construction field. Once completed, the casino it is estimated the casino will employ between 800 and 1,000 permanent workers.

"We have a lot of work to do to complete this process," Lucas said. "... We are excited at what lies ahead, as we know the city of Rockford is as well, with respect to the jobs and revenues this project will create."

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara expressed his support for the project with a tweet thanking Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Gaming Board.

"Thank you @GovPritzker and our local delegation for working to bring a casino to @CityofRockford," the mayor's tweet said. "Today the Illinois Gaming Board approved @HardRock. #815 to be preliminarily suitable for a casino."

Board Chair Charles Schmadeke made a somewhat cryptic comment during the meeting, urging 815 Entertainment "to continue to cooperate with the board to resolve the questions that have arisen, particularly with some current and former relationships," WREX reported.

However, the board did not offer any comment to WREX regarding the relationships he was alluding to.