The Rideau Carleton Raceway in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa Ontario is about to get a big makeover that will include a hotel, an entertainment venue for concerts, and hundreds of new jobs thanks to an agreement announced Monday by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
Under the agreement, Hard Rock International will partner with the raceway in the city’s rural south end. A combined investment of some $320 million is expected by HR LP Investor Inc. (owned by Hard Rock International) and RCR Investor Inc. (owned by Rideau Carleton Raceway Holdings Limited). Horse racing will remain a feature of the property with the influx of investment and new facilities bolstering horse racing.
Upon completion, the gambling floor will see 750 new slots added to the existing 1,250 along with 21 table games with the expansion taking the gaming floor to 13,000 sqm (about 140,000 sq ft). Hard Rock will manage the day to day operations of the casino for 20 years beginning in the fall. All expansions will be completed in a phased rollout, pending further regulatory approval. Within a year of beginning operations updates to the arrival experience, porte cochère, signage, racetrack, and grandstand should be completed.
The first phase would see some renovations to the property and additional attractions added to the casino by the end of the year. The revitalized facility will be known as Hard Rock Casino Ottawa and will see the well-known Hard Rock treatment including a Hard Rock Café & Center Bar, along with a concert venue to entertain up to 2,000 as part of the major expansion of the complex.
“We’re thrilled to have been chosen by OLG to create Hard Rock Casino Ottawa,” said Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International. “This is a crucial first step towards a larger strategic vision of our world-class brand’s expansion efforts in Ontario and throughout Canada. We are honored to partner with RCR, a reputable and longstanding member of the Ottawa community, and look forward to working with both the RCR and OLG team members through the transition and beyond.”
Hard Rock International has venues in 75 countries, including 175 cafes, 24 hotels, and 11 casinos.