Chicago Releases Details For All Five Casino Proposals

The city received five bids for the Chicago casino project, the Request For Proposals for which had a deadline at the end of October.

Two proposals are involved, each from Bally & rsquo, Rush Street Gaming, and Hard Rock. We recently discovered that all five proposals require total investments exceeding $1 billion.

The city has scheduled a meeting for bidders to present their plans to the public on Dec. 16. After which, a winner will be selected by Chicago and a license application will be submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).

According to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the town is aiming to select a champion in the first quarter of 2022. We should consider the details of each of the five proposals.

Chicago Rivers McCormick

One request for Rush Street Gaming is to position the game at the Lakeside Center at McCormick Place. The proposed plan is estimated to cost $1.3 billion.

Soldier Field is in proximity to McCormick Place. The game could potentially feature 12 restaurants and cafes, 2,600 slot machines, and 190 board games.

Developers suggest that there would be no need for a temporary game at this location as the reconstruction of the Lakeside Center might take less time than building it from the ground up. Currently, over 2,900 motel suites are available at this location and there’s potential for adding more.

Furthermore, the proposal advocates for the renovation of the Arie Crown Theater. However, this could spark controversy as some individuals within the convention industry may oppose the casino.

It would only take a certain amount of time to complete the least expensive of the five proposals.

Rivers 78

Rush Street’s proposal calls for a casino to be constructed between Chinatown and the South Loop on the megadevelopment site known as ‘Along the Chicago River’. The casino would be situated in this location.

The entertainment district, with a cost of $1.6 billion, is set to include 2,600 slot machines and 190 table games. In addition, a 300-room resort is planned, along with bars, restaurants, a food hall, an observation castle, and a river square.

Unlike the various Rush Street plans, this plan would incorporate a temporary casino, potentially situated on a steamboat docked at The 78 webpage.

The Chicago Sun-Times describes the site as the “most accessible” among the five.

Bally & rsquo, a publishing house of the Chicago Tribune

This plan, often called the present Freedom Center site, is valued at up to $1.7 billion. The scheme also includes situating the game in the close-north area, near the Chicago River and in proximity to Halsted and Ohio roads.

The hospital would house 3,400 slot machines, 173 board games, and a hotel with 500 rooms. Furthermore, it would feature a 70,000 square foot entertainment area with a capacity of 3,000 seats.

Designers have also talked about including a balcony area that features pools, cafes, and bars. The Bally Sports Bar would incorporate a Chicago sports museum and regularly host events with celebrity athletes, providing a truly immersive sports experience.

Bally’s also asserts that its plan, which appears to be a reference to the region’s history of Rush Street Gaming, does not include any other interests related to Chicago. Furthermore, Bally’s has expressed interest in setting up slot machines at Hare and Midway airports in both proposals.

McCormick Place, Bally & rsquo

While the center is projected to be located at the current Truck Marshaling Yard, a 28-acre space for freight trucks, this proposed location bears resemblance to the Rivers bet.

This strategy could potentially cost up to $1.6 billion. Considering that the casino and the alternate plan might provide an equal number of slots and table games, their numbers are quite comparable. Additionally, a pleasure area of a similar size would be included.

Ald. Sophia King (4th) strongly objects to this plan, convinced that the casino would have a detrimental effect on her community’s quality of life.

One Central Hard Rock

Hard Rock’s bid is more complicated than the others due to its location at the proposed One Central development.

However, Central has not yet received approval from the city or the state. The massive growth’s state funding would amount to $6.5 billion, posing a significant obstacle for Hard Rock, particularly given Chicago’s eagerness to promptly choose a winner.

Regardless, One Central would be located in a 35-acre train yard near Soldier Field, the same location envisioned for the casino. The proposed price is $1.7 billion.

One of the proposed sites for a Rush Street Gaming bid is McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center, which is where the temporary casino would be situated.

Hard Rock’s casino would offer a 500-room hotel and 3,400 slot machines. Additional amenities would include a health club, pubs, restaurants, and an entertainment area.