Following unprecedented situation-related setbacks, the highly anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is set to commence on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Media officials have been officially invited to participate in this momentous event, marking a significant milestone in the establishment of the future hotel and casino destination.
Hard Rock International is set to bring the casino complex to life in partnership with the Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino. Plans for the CA$318-million expansion of the entertainment facility in south Ottawa were announced back in 2018, but the renovations were put on hold due to the emergence of the unprecedented situation and its impact on the land-based casino industry in Canada.
June 6 Event
According to the company, the festivities are about to start on June 6, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., with representatives of the operator joined by elected officials, and business and community leaders. At the event, the company plans to showcase new renderings and details on the highly-anticipated tourism and entertainment destination in the capital of Canada.
The ceremony will take place indoors in Rideau Carleton Casino’s live venue, The Joint and it will feature comments from numerous officials. This includes the Mayor of Ottawa and City officials, Seminole Tribe representatives, Hard Rock International officials, and representatives of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The company’s iconic guitar-handled shovels will also be present at the groundbreaking.
There will be one-on-one interviews throughout the event, with light refreshments being served to the guests. Guest check-in commences at 2:00 p.m. while the ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. at The Joint, which is on the 2nd floor of Rideau Carleton Casino at 4837 Albion Road, which will become Hard Rock Casino in the future. Parking will also be provided.
Initially, the CA$318-million project was supposed to be built on the north side of the Rideau Carleton Casino which currently operating in the area. But in 2018, this plan was changed by local officials. Now, the south side will be made more family-friendly with new offerings, such as a 1,600-seat entertainment centre, dining offerings, and a hotel tower with 178 rooms available for booking.
Worries about Cannibalization
Back in 2019, Loto-Quebec shared its concerns that the introduction of Hard Rock Casino Ottawa would cause some trouble to the surrounding gaming establishments. The Crown corporation said it could affect Casino Lac-Leamy in Gatineau. At the time the alarms were backed by projections for a drop in revenue for casinos in the capital region.
Lynn Roiter, Chief Executive Officer of the provincial corporation at the time, expressed her concerns regarding the impact this launch could have on future casino operations in Gatineau. Expectations were that the first phase of the Rideau Carleton Raceway’s transformation would result in a CA$10-million loss for Gatineau by the 2019 FY. But the casino’s renovation was delayed.
Source: “Groundbreaking event for future Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa” Yahoo, May 30, 2023
