After investing around $720 million on a massive expansion project, the Seminole Tribe of Florida who owns and operates the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino facility situated in Tampa, Florida decided to bring the latest changes with plenty of fanfare. The facility’s grand opening including its casino floor started with smashing massive guitars followed by daredevils on wires and a great celebration party for the facility’s grand opening.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida which owns and operates this luxurious facility is one of the federally recognized tribes based in the state of Florida. Prior to entering the land-based casino market, the Seminole Tribe of Florida established a high-stakes bingo room and several smoke shops back in 1975. Its bingo room became one of the very first facilities of this kind owned by a federally recognized tribe.

When it comes to the tribe’s most popular gaming endeavor, it is the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, Florida which opened its doors back in 2004. This massive gaming and hotel complex is situated on the tribe’s Tampa Reservation property which sits east of Tampa on Interstate 4.

The Sixth-Largest Casino in the World   

The massive casino floor which covers around 190,000 square foot is actually the sixth-largest casino in the world. Since its opening date back in 2004, it has been expanded several times. Today, it includes loads of memorabilia related to the world of rock and roll such as musical instruments. There are multiple screens placed in the area which displays rock videos. Visitors can also check songs’ lyrics which are neatly displayed on the facility’s walls.

Among many services which it offers, the facility also includes a massive tour bus parking alongside food courts, dining areas, bars, and coffee shops. Besides its casino floor, The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino also includes a massive, twelve-story tower, a fitness center, pool, three garages with many popular restaurants including Council Oak Steak House, The Rise Deli, Rock and Raw sushi place, The Fresh Harvest food court, JuBao Noodle Palace and other.

The facility’s Hard Rock Café hosts amazing live stage performances. Then, other facilities included are the Rain Maker gift shop, Seminole Smoke Shop, Hard Rock Store alongside multiple bars situated around the massive casino floor. Moreover, visitors can find loads of musical memorabilia throughout the entire complex alongside other interesting features which just add to the overall excitement of visiting this place.

Celebrating the Grand Opening

The latest expansion of this luxurious facility deserved a great grand opening and for this event, the Seminole Tribe of Florida went all out. On the night of the grand opening, Nik Wallenda who is a skywalker entertained the public as he alongside his mother took to the skies to walk a high suspended wire between the property’s new and old towers. The event also included smashing guitars along with a dancing routine performed by awesome Light Balance troupe.

This event also brought together several celebrities who walked a grandiose red carpet which was also set. Some of the bigger names which attended the event include Christie Brinkley, Nicole Kidman, and Keith Urban. Today, this property accumulates over $1 billion in gross revenues.

The brand itself includes more than 45,000 employees across the world at two hundred and fifty-four properties. In terms of profitability, this venue enjoys the biggest success and reputation in North America. The latest expansion to the facility took more than two years to be completed. Today, the casino floor covers a massive area of 245,000 square feet. It is packed with more than two hundred table games and five thousand slot machines.

Revealed several days ago just after a press conference held on Monday, the City of Rockford’s Major Mr. McNamara said that he and the city’s other officials find the Hard Rock International’s proposal for a Rockford-based casino to be the most complete when compared to the two other proposals. Further, the Major said that the city’s officials recommend the Hard Rock International proposal to City Council.

Back on the 30^th of August, the Seminole Tribe-owned company was the very first casino operator to submit its proposal for the City of Rockford’s new casino license. This proposal includes building a casino and resort located on the former Clock Tower property of East State Street. As revealed in July several months ago, the property should include a casino, café, as well as a massive, two thousand-seat venue for concerts and other entertainment activities.

Hard Rock International as One of the Leaders 

As previously mentioned, the Hard Rock International company is owned and operated by one of the federally-recognized tribes, the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Alongside the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Seminole Tribe of Florida is one of three Seminole entities that are fully federally recognized. Since 1957 when the tribe received this status, it has several Indian reservations across Florida.

Before the Hard Rock International company which is today one of the most prominent casinos and hotel operators in the states, the Tribe established a high-stakes bingo room in 1975 when everything began. This bingo hall was one of the very first tribal endeavors of this kind in the states. Today, the Tribe operates several casinos and hotel properties including the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino located in Atlantic City which opened its doors back on the 2^nd of April 1990.

This casino and hotel is definitely one of the most popular ventures of this kind formerly known by its name the Trump Taj Mahal besides a massive casino floor and hotel suites, the property includes Hard Rock café, as well as several restaurants including Moon at Dynasty, Mulino New York, Dynasty II, Sultan’s Feast and Robert’s Steakhouse. Something similar including restaurants and other dining areas is also planned for the City of Rockford’s casino and hotel.

Great Economic Impact on the City’s Finances

According to the Hard Rock International officials, their Rockford casino proposal would bring around one thousand and two hundred construction jobs as well as around one thousand permanent part-time and full-time jobs once the casino opens its doors. As one of the leading names in the industry, this casino if build and operated by the Hard Rock International company would surely draw bigger global appeal.

On their part, the City of Rockford’s officials said that the Hard Rock International’s proposal for the casino and related financial structure is rather credible. The same report also shares more details such as that the proposal also includes minimum tax guarantees on gambling which are both sustainable and realistic. Another detail revealed about the proposal in question is that it also covers revenue payments which would doubtlessly positively impact the city’s finances.

As one part of the potential business agreement between the City of Rockford and Hard Rock International, the company has also agreed to pay the city at least $7 million yearly in taxes on gaming plus other commitments that apply as determined by the city’s officials. All in all, no matter which proposal wins in the end, the City of Rockford would benefit financially while more than two thousand people will find permanent and temporarily jobs among other advantages. The other two proposals came from businessmen Kjell Kaashagen and Henry Leong and from Ren Clewer of Gorman & Co.