The City of Chicago has revealed five bids for the city’s first casino property from four different developers at various locations across the city. The bids represent the culmination of a multi-year process beginning in 2019 when gambling, including sports betting, was legalized within city limits. When bidding opened in April, it was met with mixed reviews from developers, however after a two-month extension of the deadline four applicants turned in their plans.
Requirements for the casino included, but weren’t limited to, creating an entertainment and gaming destination that enhances the urban fabric, host a hotel with as many as 500 rooms, dining, shopping, and entertainment venues. Other requirements include hiring locally in hopes of building wealth in disadvantaged communities, and sourcing construction goods from such areas as well.
Bally’s McCormick Place proposal by Bally’s
The largest bidder is the Bally’s Corporation out of Rhode Island which operates locations across the country and hopes to make Chicago its flagship location. Bally’s is placing two bids for two different locations, this includes one on the old Chicago Tribune printing plant and one at the McCormick Place truck yard. The Bally’s bid is around $1.6 billion and would be built in two phases with the end goal of bringing 4,000 gambling positions including outposts at both O’Hare and Midway airports.
Hard Rock Chicago hotel at the Carbon and Carbide Building by HRS
The remaining three bids have released far less information but do include some of the same sites. Hard Rock Chicago, LLC has placed a bid for a single site that would be managed by Hard Rock International. It is worth noting this wouldn’t be Hard Rock’s first foray into the area, for many years they operated a hotel in the downtown Carbon and Carbide building, which is now The Pendry. As for gambling, Hard Rock has recently opened a casino in Gary, Indiana, and is working on another location in nearby Rockford, it also operates the Guitar-shaped Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Hard Rock Northern Indiana by Hard Rock International
The remaining two bids come from Rivers Chicago at McCormick LLC and Rivers 78 Gaming LLC, both of which would be operated by Rush Street Gaming. Led by gaming expert Neil Bluhm, their names are indicative of their proposed locations, one would be built in partnership with Related Midwest at the massive 78 mega-project. The second proposal would take over an undisclosed part of McCormick place hoping to be close to the lakefront and convention traffic.
Rendering of The 78 by Related Midwest
The city will now begin reviewing the proposals more in-depth and suggest a winner to the mayor who will then take it to the City Council to vote. Although no concrete timeline has been revealed, the winning bid would be able to open a temporary facility while construction on the final complex progresses. The city hopes to open the doors of the finished facility by 2025 and use the tax revenue towards police and fire pensions funds.
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Got to say that McCormick place is a bad idea. Yes the conventions go there but most do not STAY there. They stay in Loop, River North, Streeterville, West Loop. You are at a convention all day, you want to go back to room drop off stuff, freshen up, get dinner and then hit a casino/entertainment.
I think West Loop just East of United Center, straddling the Pink line, would be a much better place. You get foot traffic post games, easy access from West Loop and of course the Pink line (new stop in the building) as well as being part of the road grid. McC is a dead end, the 78 is not much better.
Look at a map and each location. Then ask how people are going to get there from all the main spots of the city, especially those were tourists stay and those with residents who have cash to play at a casino.
Woof. That halsted site is too prominent for what will inevitably include a 1000 car garage.
Include*
Exactly! The Halsted site is definitely a no for me. You can barely drive up and down Halsted as it is due to all the traffic so imagine how worse things would get with a 1000+ car garage. The McCormick marshalling yards option looks classy and way better situated, although I’d like to see more details. Looking forward to the other 3 bids.
Bally’s riverfront proposal is my favorite by far. Right off the riverwalk which is going to be expanded north and south as years go so it’s smart to invest in the area now
yeah the Halsted site should be saved for a taller development. It probably has some of the best views of the skyline.