The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa in Ontario broke ground June 6. It is Hard Rock’s first hotel-casino in Canada. The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (in British Columbia) opened in 2013.

Construction of the $350 million Hard Rock Ottawa is expected to be completed in spring of 2025. The site is located at the existing Rideau Carleton Casino, which is expected to remain open during construction.

Hard Rock Ottawa is expected to feature a 150-room hotel with 22 suites, and a casino with 1,500 slot machines, 40 table games, a sportsbook and a baccarat room. Plans call for 10 restaurants, bars and lounges – including a Council Oak Steakhouse and Hard Rock Cafe. Other amenities include a Hard Rock Live entertainment venue with 1,800 seats and a standing area for 2,200.

“We are excited to be one step closer to bringing our iconic brand and rich music history to the people of Ottawa and the surrounding region,” Jon Lucas, Hard Rock International COO, said in a news release.

Hard Rock officials said the casino-resort would create nearly 1,900 temporary construction jobs and permanent casino-hotel positions.

“The new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino represents a significant investment in the south end of our city,” Mark Sutcliffe, Ottawa’s mayor, said in the release. “It will create new jobs and build on the existing attraction at Rideau Carleton Casino. It will also be another great tourist attraction in Ottawa.”

At the groundbreaking event, Hard Rock donated $20,000 ($15,000 USD) to the Minwaashin Lodge, a nearby Indigenous women’s support center.

The Seminole Tribe is the parent entity of Hard Rock International. More is at hardrock.com.