Hard Rock Puts Down Roots in Iowa.

Sioux City, Iowa will soon be home to the newest Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and some residents can’t wait to get their hands on the iconic t-shirts.

In a 3-2 vote on Thursday, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission awarded a state gaming license to the developer of a Hard Rock-branded casino and hotel, an $118.5 million project, set in Sioux City’s historic downtown. The Battery Building, the chosen site the land-based casino, was originally built in 1906. It has been home to a cutlery manufacturer, a battery company, and farm implement warehouse.

At 100,000 square feet, the Hard Rock complex will potentially include 30,000 square feet of gaming space filled with slot machines and table games. Amenities include a 60-room hotel, upscale and buffet restaurants, a sports bar, retail shops, a beer garden and outdoor lawn. A large portion of the historic Battery Building will include offices as well as a 750-seat entertainment venue.

According to Wikipedia, Sioux City has the following accolades:

• Forbes placed the Sioux City metro in the Top 15 Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers
• MSN.com ranked the area the #2 Most Livable Bargain Market.
• The Daily Beast, an American news reporting website, placed Sioux City on their list of The Top 40 Drunkest Cities in America, with a ranking of 14th.

Not a bad combination for a new casino that promises to deliver 500 permanent jobs, a iconic tourist destination, and a new heartbeat for a historic downtown.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission was considering several casino bids for the Siouxland area, and ultimately chose Hard Rock.

The potential of a Hard Rock influence in the fourth largest Iowa city has built a lot of excitement for area residents. “As you drive up Interstate 29 going north, when you cross the Floyd River you can see the tower of the battery building,” said Missouri River Historical Development President Mark Monson at Wednesday night’s MRHD meeting. “And if there is a 20 foot guitar on top of that, you talk about a landmark, that will be incredible!”