Rockford’s Hard Rock Casino to feature 62-foot guitar monument to Rick Nielsen and Cheap Trick
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The black and white checkerboard guitar monument that will adorn the front entrance to the Hard Rock Casino Rockford will stand 62 feet tall when it is installed later this month.
Rockford’s Code and Regulations Committee has recommended the City Council approve several variances to the casino’s signage to allow for the huge guitar, which is modeled after the pattern made famous by Rockford natives Cheap Trick and guitarist Rick Nielsen.
Nielsen, a storied guitar collector, showed off some of the 400 guitars in his collection at the “Rick’s Picks” exhibit at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in 2012.
The guitar monument will stand 62 feet and 10-inches tall, and 38 feet and 6-inches wide outside the front door of the building.
Additional video screens and other signage are also planned, to increase awareness of the casino along Interstate 90.
The temporary Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act, which opened at 610 N. Bell School Road during the permanent casino’s construction, will close on Monday, August 12th.
The new casino, at 7801 E. State Street, on the site of the former Clock Tower Resort, will feature nearly 1,300 slot machines, 50 live table games including poker, a sportsbook, multiple food and beverage offerings, shopping, and the Hard Rock Live entertainment venue.
A “guitar smash” weekend celebration, scheduled to kick off on the official opening day, Thursday, August 29th, will see performances by The Nielsen Trust, Akon, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Brad Paisley.
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