Five bids were submitted for the Chicago casino project, with a deadline for proposals set at the end of October.
There are two proposals from Bally & Rush Street Gaming and Hard Rock, each requiring total investments of over $1 billion.
The city has set a meeting for bidders to showcase their plans to the public on December 16. Following this, Chicago will choose a winner, and an application for a gaming license will be submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has stated that the town aims to choose a champion in the first quarter of 2022. It is important for us to carefully evaluate the specifics of each of the five proposals.
Chicago Rivers McCormick
Rush Street Gaming has been asked to place the game at the Lakeside Center at McCormick Place, with the estimated cost of the proposed plan being $1.3 billion.
Soldier Field is located near McCormick Place, offering the potential for a game with 12 restaurants and cafes, 2,600 slot machines, and 190 board games.
Developers believe that it may not be necessary to create a temporary game at this site, as the renovation of the Lakeside Center could be completed faster than constructing a new one. With over 2,900 motel suites currently on site, there is also room for potential expansion.
Additionally, the proposal includes plans for renovating the Arie Crown Theater, which may be met with controversy from some individuals in the convention industry who are against the addition of a casino.
The cheapest of the five proposals could be completed within a specific timeframe.
Rivers 78
The proposal from Rush Street suggests building a casino at the ‘Along the Chicago River’ megadevelopment site, located between Chinatown and the South Loop.
The $1.6 billion entertainment district will feature 2,600 slot machines and 190 table games. Plans also include a 300-room resort, bars, restaurants, a food hall, an observation castle, and a river square.
Unlike the different Rush Street proposals, this plan includes a temporary casino that could be located on a steamboat docked at The 78 webpage.
The Chicago Sun-Times considers the site to be the most easily accessible out of the five.
Bally & rsquo, a publishing house of the Chicago Tribune
The current Freedom Center site, commonly known as the present plan, is estimated to be worth as much as $1.7 billion. The proposal also involves placing the development in the near north area, close to the Chicago River and near the intersection of Halsted and Ohio streets.
The hospital will have 3,400 slot machines, 173 board games, a 500-room hotel, and a 70,000 square foot entertainment area that can accommodate 3,000 people.
Designers have discussed the possibility of incorporating a balcony area that includes pools, cafes, and bars. The Bally Sports Bar will feature a Chicago sports museum and host events with celebrity athletes, offering a complete sports experience.
Bally’s maintains that its proposal, possibly inspired by Rush Street Gaming’s history in the region, does not involve any other Chicago-related interests. Additionally, Bally’s has shown interest in installing slot machines at both Hare and Midway airports in its two proposals.
McCormick Place, Bally & rsquo
Although the new center is planned to be situated at the existing Truck Marshaling Yard, a 28-acre area designated for freight trucks, this proposed site is similar to the Rivers bet.
This plan has the potential to incur costs of up to $1.6 billion. The number of slots and table games in both the casino and the alternative plan are comparable, as well as the inclusion of a similar-sized entertainment area.
Ald. Sophia King (4th) vehemently opposes this proposal, believing that the casino would negatively impact the quality of life in her community.
One Central Hard Rock
The bid from Hard Rock is more intricate compared to the rest because of its positioning within the proposed One Central development.
Yet, Central has not yet obtained approval from the city or state. The state funding for the substantial growth is projected to be $6.5 billion, presenting a major challenge for Hard Rock, especially considering Chicago’s desire to promptly select a winner.
In any case, One Central is planned to be situated in a 35-acre train yard near Soldier Field, the same spot where the casino was originally planned to be located. The estimated cost for the project is $1.7 billion.
One potential location for Rush Street Gaming’s bid is the Lakeside Center at McCormick Place, where the temporary casino would be located.
The Hard Rock casino will feature a 500-room hotel and 3,400 slot machines, along with a health club, pubs, restaurants, and an entertainment area.
