ROCKFORD, IL — Construction of a 215- to 225-room Hard Rock Hotel would give Hard Rock Casino Rockford the largest hotel in Rockford and Winnebago County.
Rockford has agreed to sell $103 million in bonds to finance the project, which includes a 15,000-square-foot conference center. Hard Rock will be responsible for paying off the bonds and continuing to fund the city at least $7 million a year in gaming revenue.
Hard Rock hopes to keep pace by breaking ground later this year. It is expected to take 15 months to build.
Once built, it will change Rockford’s hotel landscape — becoming the region’s newest and largest hotel in one fell swoop.
Here is a look at how other hotels will compare.
1. Holiday Inn Rockford
Address: 7550 E. State St.
Rooms: 202
Year opened: 1970
2. Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront
Address: 416 S. Main St.
Rooms: 160
Year opened: 2020
3. Courtyard by Marriott Rockford
Address: 7676 E. State St.
Rooms: 147 rooms
Opened: 1986
4. Hilton Garden Inn Rockford
Address: 7675 Walton St.
Rooms: 135 rooms
Opened: 2006
5. Woodspring Suites Loves Park
Address: 4101 Galleria Drive, Loves Park
Rooms: 122
Opened: 2024
6. Econo Lodge Rockford Casino Area
Address: 7712 Potowatami Trail
Rooms: 122 rooms
Opened: 1989
7. Hampton Inn Rockford
Address: 615 Clark Drive
Rooms: 121 rooms
Opened: 1990
8. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rockford Loves Park
Address: 7552 Park Place, Loves park
Rooms: 119
Opened: 2005
9. Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Address: 200 S. Bell School Road
Rooms: 114 rooms
Opened: 1997
10. Alpine Inn
Address: 4404 E. State St.
Rooms: 114
Opened: 1945
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Hotel at Hard Rock will shoot to top of 10 largest in Rockford area
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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