Bally's Quad Cities Casino & Hotels in Rock Island is getting ready for a $34 million remodel. CREDIT BALLY'S QUAD CITIES
A $34 million redevelopment project featuring a best-in-class sportsbook bar and a hotel-wide remodel will help position Bally‘s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel as the top gaming destination in the region. That’s the hope of Rock Island city staff and aldermen who recently inked a tax increment financing agreement with the gaming company to provide […]
A $34 million redevelopment project featuring a best-in-class sportsbook bar and a hotel-wide remodel will help position Bally‘s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel as the top gaming destination in the region.That’s the hope of Rock Island city staff and aldermen who recently inked a tax increment financing agreement with the gaming company to provide up to $4.7 million in TIF district dollars to support the project. TRAVIS HANKINSTravis Hankins, vice president and general manager of Bally’s Quad Cities, told the QCBJ: “Bally’s is grateful to the City of Rock Island staff and the city council members for working with us on the extension of this development agreement. It is a great example of public/private partnership and one that will allow us to invest in our property and be opening and ramping up in operational areas such as the casino.”He added: “In addition to construction jobs, additional Bally’s FTEs (full time equivalent jobs) will be added with the initial investment which includes a sports bar.”Miles Brainard, the city’s community and economic development director, said that the deal calls for the funds to be distributed or “reimbursed” over five years. The TIF funding is frontloaded, so some 70% of it will come in the initial phases when the expenses are especially high, he said. Then it will taper off over the next four years.Mr. Brainard called Rock Island’s contribution a rebate of sorts. “It’s a pretty modest contribution to the project in its full sense. Bally’s is really putting out a lot of its own money for this project.”The original TIF district itself was created solely for the construction of the then Jumer’s Casino Rock Island land-based casino, he said, and like that initial TIF investment, the value added by the new Bally’s project “is what ultimately funds it.”He added “Nobody loses anything. Everybody wins.”That’s because the new project will allow Bally’s to be more competitive against the newer casino properties in Iowa and secure the Rock Island casino’s place “as the top gaming destination in the Quad Cities once again,” city documents said.There also was little doubt in city leaders’ minds that the investment was key.“When you consider the fact that there are three casinos in the area and the two on the Iowa side really have a dramatically different experience of the pandemic vs. the one casino on the Illinois side, you can really see their need for a competitive edge and you can also see why the City of Rock Island has such a strong interest in assisting them to make these improvements to remain competitive,” Mr. Brainard said.From a tourism standpoint, the Bally’s upgrade also is good for the Quad Cities regional destination, said Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities.“Bally’s is an economic development engine and Visit Quad Cities is excited about their future renovations,” he told QCBJ. “The private/public partnership between Bally’s and the City of Rock Island is vitally important and we applaud the Rock Island City Council for working with them on their plans. Bally’s creates positive outcomes for tourism, supports hospitality industry jobs, and the various revenues they generate for our QC economy is needed for the community.”When Bally’s initially bought the former Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, the casino was already facing an uneven playing field with its gaming neighbors in Iowa, which were not subject to the restrictions Illinois put on entertainment venues including casinos.“Although there were a lot of inconsistencies nationwide regarding COVID-19 mitigations, Bally’s Corporation acquired Jumer’s in June 2021 and quickly rebranded the property,” Mr. Hankins said. “It is important to note, Illinois was still under a mask mandate until February 2022 which presented a challenge from a competitive standpoint.”Despite that, he said, “Bally’s quickly proceeded with rebranding and ‘painted the town red.’ The rebrand created a lot of excitement for our team members and guests. We painted the property ‘Bally’s red,’ updated internal/external signage including our pylon sign and a brand-new video board along I-280 creating brand awareness for the property.”Mr. Hankins said Bally’s had been in discussions with the city on this new project for the past year. “We both knew our redevelopment agreement, which is within our TIF period, was set to expire this year and we approached the city with this investment plan in hopes of extending the redevelopment agreement before the TIF expires in six years,” he said.The rapid growth of sports gaming in the U.S. and Illinois also prompted the need for the new investment, which Mr. Hankins said “will be the largest single project and makeover of the property since its opening dating back to 2008.”Originally, he said, “Bally’s plan was to refresh DJ’s Steakhouse by opening the floorplan and creating a social and casual environment to appeal to a broader demographic. Then, sports betting was legalized, we knew we wanted to get in this market and converting DJ’s Steakhouse into a sports bar made perfect sense.”According to the TIF agreement, that component of the remodel could be completed by December with hotel room and other upgrades to follow.This is an early rendering of the new sports bar planned as part of a $34 million remodel of the Bally's Quad Cities Casino & Hotel. CREDIT BALLY'S QUAD CITIES“In addition to the 205-room renovation, Bally’s Sports Bar will bring a best-in-class sports bar to the Quad Cities,” Mr. Hankins said. “Here, fans can expect a high-energy American brew pub serving lunch, dinner and drinks.”Bally’s is keeping some of its sportsbooks plans close to the vest. But Mr. Hankins did tell the QCBJ, “The environment is meticulously curated for those seeking a casual and social setting with cuisine that goes well beyond bar food. With curated dining menus, over 20 big screens, a 25-foot video wall, and The Luxury Box private dining area, Bally’s Sports Bar will be the best place for the big games.” And, he added, “The prominent 25-seat bar will be a must-experience attraction offering a gastro-pub style menu and a curated tap list featuring 20 local and national brewers and craft cocktails. Bally’s Sports Bar will be located just off the casino floor.”The new amenities are in addition to the other offerings that come with the Bally’s brand, which he said, “continues to offer the most rewards, value and offers. We are committed to delivering an immersive entertainment experience offering the latest slot and table games, hotel and best-in-class dining experience in the market.”And, he said, “We are committed to bringing a best-in-class venue to our casino that will be a new destination for Rock Island.”
Rock Island casino history
January 1990: Illinois legalizes riverboat gambling.
April 1, 1991: Riverboat casinos launch in the Quad-Cities.
March 11, 1992: The Casino Rock Island begins its gaming cruises from the downtown Rock Island Boatworks.
June 26, 1999: Dockside gambling begins in Illinois, leveling the playing field for the Casino Rock Island which had been at a competitive disadvantage to dockside Iowa neighbors.
Oct. 13, 2007: Jumer’s Casino Rock Island breaks ground on a $151 million land-based casino, hotel and banquet center.
Dec. 1, 2008: Jumer’s opens its new Las Vegas-style casino and hotel in southwest Rock Island. The 43,000-square-foot casino has more than 1,100 slots and 24 table games as well as a live poker room and a high-limit slots area. The complex includes a hotel, event center, nightclub and four restaurants. DJ’s Steakhouse, which will soon become the new Bally’s Sport Bar, is named after Jumer’s founder, the late D. James Jumer. He died in September that year at age 82.
September 2010: Delaware North Companies, a global hospitality company, buys Jumer’s for $180 million.
June 15, 2021: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Providence, Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corporation buys Jumer’s for $120 million.
March 2022: Rock Island aldermen approve an agreement to provide up to $4.7 million in tax increment finance (TIF) revenue to help Bally’s undertake a $34 million remodeling project expected to generate jobs and increase tax revenue.
