Rockford entertainment leader claims Hard Rock brings ‘challenges’ to BMO, Coronado record revenue

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Gretchen Gilmore’s hand climbs into the air until it falls. The Rockford Area Venue and Entertainment Authority (RAVE) general manager’s motion resembles the organization’s revenue trend.

“Our momentum going up,” Gilmore says through her hands, “is not going to continue going up at the moment.”

RAVE oversees the BMO Center and Coronado Theatre in downtown Rockford. On Wednesday, Gilmore tells board members the authority’s budget for the year and going forward. It’s a complicated discussion as members juggle a record year and emerging competition.

“This year, we beat last year,” admits the general manager as she speaks with board members. “But I do want to put it out there that we’re going to have challenges this coming year. We’re already seeing it.”

RAVE sees good news with revenue as it beats a record $3.5 million in 2023; Gilmore asserts the authority has never seen such a successful year especially with the BMO having its best year under RAVE oversight.

Another highlight for the general manager is the Rockford IceHogs increasing attendance by 12% last season.

However, one of the “challenges” named in the meeting is the Hard Rock Casino Rockford, which opened in late August. On its website, the casino describes its Hard Rock Live venue as “Rockford’s newest entertainment destination,” with a showroom with a capacity for 2,000 guests.

Across town, the BMO and Coronado feel a “pull” from Hard Rock attracting performers and visitors. During the budget talk, RAVE Vice-President John Phelps questions where the downtown venues stood against the casino: “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I got the impression maybe the default is the casino.”

A Rockford city council committee-approved amusement tax also looms over the entertainment destinations. In June, the Code and Regulation Committee unanimously approved a 5% charge on Hard Rock concerts – the same fee those visiting the BMO and Coronado pay.

The tax hasn’t returned for a council-wide vote since. Gilmore hopes the city finds a “fair” solution.

“If we have it, we would prefer they have it. If they don’t have it, then we would prefer we don’t have it,” contends the general manager.

In a statement to WIFR, Hard Rock Casino Rockford president Geno Iafrate approves a similar measure.

Gilmore also notes another strain between the casino and downtown venues: Hard Rock recently pulled its sponsored “Club 27″ suite in the Coronado. The landmark theatre has started plans for a new “club.”

With a shifting entertainment landscape, some from RAVE expect a loss in hosting concerts to Hard Rock.

“Our booker has been looking at other genres and being creative with different programming,” says Gilmore. Over the year, the authority’s tested its expansion of who to book – including comedians like Shane Gillis and acts like Nitro Circus.

“Comedy is king. That really helped,” maintains Gilmore. “We had some great concerts. We really put ourselves on the map for private events too. We transformed the arena into a stunning corporate event.”

Other leadership from RAVE points past to the “challenges” to an optimistic future.

“We’ll do what we can, and we’ll find new content and start making some records again,” says Doug Johnson – knocking on the board table.

One investment RAVE hopes returns revenue is increasing its marketing department, which reported growth in the budget meeting.

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