SIOUX CITY, IA -
Monday the folks behind the Hard Rock project were meeting with business leadership groups, trying to get the community behind that proposal.
"This is rare, to be able to build a casino project like this next to a historic building that you can actually incorporate into the project," said Sioux City Entertainment Vice President Jerry Hill. "Extremely rare."
Hill was talking about the "Battery building," located at the corner of 4th and Water street in downtown, what could be the future site of the Hard Rock Sioux City.
Sioux City Entertainment is the group behind the proposal.
If it's built, the Hard Rock would have three restaurants, shops and a 60 room hotel, but it's the 800 seat concert venue that promoters think will really stand out.
"Really we're excited about bringing a venue for local bands to be able to expose themselves to the public," said Hill.
That's not everything the proposed casino could bring to town.
The Hard Rock would create 500 direct jobs, bring in $105 million in local spending each year, and give around $3.2 million annually to Missouri River Historical Development, the non-profit group partnering with Sioux City Entertainment on the proposal.
A proposal that MRHD's President hopes becomes a reality.
"As you drive up Interstate 29 going north you can see the top of the Battery building at the Floyd River," said MRHD President Mark Monson. "Imagine a 30 foot guitar on top of there, I mean, it's an iconic draw."
Sioux City Entertainment's giving the media a tour of the battery building on Tuesday, December 3rd.
Siouxland News will be there and bring you the latest.
It's important to remember that the Hard Rock isn't the only proposal for a downtown casino.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will decide which one actually comes to town, but we'll have to wait a while to find out.
The decision won't be made until April 18th.
