CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office has released details of the five bids for a Chicago casino ahead of public presentations next month.
The administration said it could have a finalist by sometime early next year.
Bally’s submitted two proposals: one at the Chicago Tribune’s printing Center in River North and another at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Each would have hotels with 500 rooms, six restaurants, three bars and a 3,000-seat entertainment venue.
Bally’s already licensed by the state and will make a $25 million upfront payment if it gets the license for its Tribune Printing Plant site or $50 million for McCormick Place.
Hard Rock Chicago said it wants the casino at One Central Project near Soldier Field and offers more restaurants and bars or lounges.
Locally-owned Rivers Chicago, which owns the Des Plaines casino, also has proposed two sites: McCormick Place where it would add to existing hotel rooms and update the Arie Crown Theater and the 78 in the South Loop.
Rivers claimed its McCormick Place casino and entertainment site could be up and running in 12 months.
The other site would have a riverfront entertainment venue near the 78 in the South Loop. Rivers said its plan for the 78 in the South Loop has the best access to highways and public transit and will seamlessly connect surrounding neighborhoods to downtown.
The companies will present their proposals publicly on Dec. 16.
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