Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with a Smash

The guitars weren’t just strummed—they were smashed—as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors today. It’s a signature Hard Rock tradition and a fitting way to welcome the public to Ottawa’s newest world-class entertainment venue.

The $350 million expansion and rebranding of the former Rideau Carleton Casino began in 2023, with guitar-shaped shovels breaking ground. Now, phase one is complete. Today’s opening ceremony brought together top executives, city officials, and media, all greeted with signature rock-and-roll flair.

Hard Rock’s Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas was on hand for the celebration and emphasized the company’s commitment to jobs and community. More than 1,100 people have been hired so far, and over 2,000 jobs were created during construction. With phase two underway starting tomorrow—the overhaul of the existing Rideau Carleton Raceway facility—the reimagined venue is expected to fully reopen in December 2025 with even more slots, table games, and a fourth live music stage.

Lucas was clear that Hard Rock is more than a casino. “We’re an entertainment and hospitality company,” he said. “A big goal is to bring Ontario drivers back across that bridge—and we think we can do that with our offerings.”

While the name suggests rock and roll, Lucas noted that the new Hard Rock Live venue—a 1,900-seat theatre that expands to 2,200 for general admission—will host a wide variety of musical genres. Alongside it, a stage at the Hard Rock Cafe will feature free weekend shows (Thursday through Saturday), and a third, more intimate stage is tucked inside the upscale Council Oak on-site restaurant, which features its own in-house butcher, a glassed-in meat cooler, and even a VIP steak knife cabinet.

Although the business runs 24/7, 365 days a year, Lucas said one of the most rewarding aspects is offering good jobs with solid wages—even if it means staff are busiest when most others are off, on weekends and holidays.

While Hard Rock’s brand was once defined by its wall-to-wall memorabilia, the experience has grown, and in Ottawa, the collection has a distinctly Canadian twist. Giovanni Taliaferro, Hard Rock’s Vice President of Memorabilia and Design, said the team made a conscious effort to represent iconic Canadian artists in the brand’s first Canadian location.

The space includes everything from two “jukebox time machines” from the legendary band Rush, to Alanis Morissette’s high school yearbook, and a hand-scripted “Give Peace a Chance” poster from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 Montreal bed-in—a protest that eventually brought them to Parliament Hill to meet Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Still, the memorabilia alone could be reason to visit. There’s Prince’s purple velvet suit worn onstage in Ottawa, along with a trove of clothing, footwear, and instruments from some of the world’s biggest artists. “I’m really proud of the incredible human artifacts on display here,” Taliaferro said, noting that pieces are sourced from auctions, private collectors, artist management, and sometimes directly from the artists themselves. Everything is carefully authenticated before being installed.

There’s also custom art throughout the venue. One of the standout installations is a series of portraits created using vinyl records by Rob Ubels—Michael Bublé’s brother-in-law—which hang in the hotel’s front entrance. Another eye-catching feature is a massive maple-leaf guitar suspended from the ceiling above the lobby, with its “strings” stretching across the space all the way to the Centre Bar.

Gaming, of course, remains central to the experience. According to Aaron, who oversees slot operations, there are currently just over 1,000 machines on the floor, with roughly 80 percent of them brand new—not just to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, but to Canada. When phase two is complete, the number of slots will climb to over 1,500. There’s also a high-limit area, where the minimum bet is $100, and the current 23 table games will expand to 38 as the next phase is rolled out.

The casino’s success has already had a meaningful financial impact on the city. Duncan Hannay, President and CEO of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, noted that the former Rideau Carleton Casino has contributed more than $120 million to the City of Ottawa—funds that help support local initiatives, everything from emergency services to recreational facilities.

Hannay believes that with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino rebrand, that number is only set to grow. “There’s an unaddressed market opportunity here,” he said, predicting that the venue’s tourism draw will bring added economic benefits to the region.

“This is now one of the premier gaming and entertainment facilities in the province,” he said, highlighting not just the casino but the 150-room hotel, Hard Rock Live venue, and a fully upgraded player experience.

Tonight, Canadian music legend and 17-time Grammy winner David Foster will officially christen the Hard Rock Live stage, joined by singer and actor Katharine McPhee. On Saturday, Avril Lavigne brings her pop-punk anthems to the venue.

Whether you’re into gaming or haven’t so much as stepped into a casino before, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa promises something for everyone. With live harness racing, multiple stages, unique Council Oak Steaks and Seafood dining, immersive art, and around-the-clock excitement, it’s a place where you can take in a show, sip a cocktail, hear some live music—and just relax. As one staffer put it, “It’s a way to get away.”

Header Photo: Courtesy Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa