Hard Rock partners Spectacle for Terre Haute bid
As a Terre Haute casino may soon be developed, Hard Rock and Spectacle Entertainment have joined forces to push for the venue.
US.- The recently approved Illinois gaming expansion has companies rushing to invest in the state. That’s why Hard Rock and Spectacle Entertainment have signed a deal to work together.
The partnership involves Spectacle obtaining franchise rights with Hard Rock for its proposed casino in Terre Haute.
“We have a signed letter of intent,” said John Keeler, attorney for Spectacle Entertainment. “That means the casino will be branded, so that is maybe akin to somebody having a McDonald’s franchise.”
“A big factor in this decision was the Illinois [gaming] legislation,” Keeler said. “The Illinois [gaming legislation] was water over the dam. We knew we had to do something to be super competitive.”
“Our desire, both for Indiana and Terre Haute and in Gary as well, if we are successful, is to put out a first class product that is well known,” Keeler said. “The casino will be appropriately sized for the market and will have the traditional things that come with a Hard Rock casino, such as Hard Rock merchandise and a Hard Rock cafe inside.”
“We have a long way to go,” Keeler conceded. “We still have to win the bid, but we are really excited and believe that this will really up the ante.”
The Illinois casino race
A new Indiana casino may arrive in Terre Haute, but there are still some steps ahead. The most important is a referendum, set to take place next November to assess the proposal’s acceptance.
Vigo County voters will voice their opinion in a ballot during the municipal election.
“We’ve had so many jobs taken away, and it will be great to have something here locally again that will employ a lot of people and put money back in some folks pockets,” Vigo County Chief Deputy Clerk Leanna Moore says.
Lawmakers have already passed the bill and Governor Eric Holcomb signed it. That allows a gambling expansion in the state after a decade of the same offering, but voters must approve it.
