Construction Begins on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa
June 12, 2023
From left to right: Steve Desroches, Jim Warren, Duncan Hannay, Goldie Ghamari, Helen MacMillan, Lisa MacLeod, Mark Sutcliffe, Jon Lucas, George Darouze, and Andrew Wright
Construction has officially started on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. A groundbreaking ceremony, with guests using Hard Rock’s legendary guitar-handled shovels, was held June 6 at the Rideau Carleton Casino, the site of the future state-of-the-art facility.
The completion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is planned for Spring 2025. Rideau Carleton Casino will continue to operate until the renovation and rebranding of the property to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is complete.
Hard Rock International representatives, elected officials, and business and community leaders shared the exciting details of Canada’s first Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which will include:
- A 150-room Hard Rock Hotel, including 22 suites
- An expanded Hard Rock Casino with 1,500 slot machines, 40 live-action table games, a Hard Rock Sportsbook, high-limit gaming, and a Baccarat room
- An 1,800-seat Hard Rock Live theatre with standing room for 2,200 guests
- More than 10 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including the award-winning and iconic Hard Rock Cafe and Council Oak Steakhouse
- Retail outlets that include Rock Shop® and Unity Store
“We are excited to be one step closer to bringing our iconic brand and rich music history to the people of Ottawa and the surrounding region,” said Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International. “I wish to thank the provincial and municipal elected officials who helped us get here today. We are especially grateful to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) who have been incredibly supportive in helping make this possible. We appreciate our partnership with them.”
The new facility is expected to generate significant tax revenues for the City of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario, and the federal government during construction and once fully operational.
The $350 million construction project is currently one of the largest private investment developments in Ottawa. It is expected to create close to 1,900 direct and indirect construction and ongoing employment opportunities in the city of Ottawa.
“It’s finally happening!” said Helen MacMillan, General Manager of Rideau Carleton Casino, Future Hard Rock. “After experiencing delays due to the pandemic, we are extremely excited to be making concrete progress on our plans to bring this amazing facility to life for our guests and team members, and for Ottawa’s residents and visitors!”