The beat has dropped. The lights are up. And Ottawa, long waiting in the wings, is finally stepping into the spotlight.
On July 3, 2025, after years of anticipation, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opens its doors. And not just as a casino. Not just as a hotel. But as a fully integrated entertainment resort—the first of its kind in Canada for Hard Rock International.
Sleek, high-energy, and unmistakably Hard Rock, the $350 million project marks a bold new chapter for the capital. With its signature mix of music history, global hospitality, and local connection, the new destination includes a 150-room hotel, a sprawling gaming floor, 10 restaurants and bars, and the highly anticipated Hard Rock Live venue with room for 2,200.
A rendering of the new 150-room Hard Rock Hotel—featuring 22 luxury suites—shows the sleek modern tower that anchors Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, open on July 3rd.
At the heart of it all is President Christine Crump, the woman who’s quietly been orchestrating every move behind the scenes. Her face graces the cover of this issue for good reason: this is her seventh major gaming development—and her most personal yet.
“Leaving the Toronto market after 23 years in the industry was a leap of faith,” Crump says. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. Ottawa truly feels like home now.”
She’s spent the past year leading with precision and passion, building a team of over 1,000 “band members”—Hard Rock’s term for employees—and shaping a culture that prizes fun, inclusion, and excellence in equal measure. “We’re in the entertainment business. We should have fun at work,” she adds. “And everyone who works here is part of the band—something bigger than themselves.”
Christine Crump and Tyler Buxton in Hard Rock Live, poised to launch Ottawa’s first title fight night. Their collaboration brings headline entertainment and championship boxing to the city.
That energy is immediately felt inside the complex. A suspended guitar sculpture runs the length of the entrance, guiding guests down what Hard Rock calls the Yellow Brick Road—a cinematic corridor that leads straight to the heart of the action: the Hard Rock Cafe Center Bar. With over $8 million invested in audio-visual technology, the entire space pulses with rhythm.
Just past the bar is Hard Rock Live—a 2,200-seat venue built for big nights and bigger names. Designed with flexible seating, advanced acoustics, and dramatic lighting, it’s ready to host everything from concerts to comedy to combat sports, and galas or banquets.
The summer kicks off with music legend David Foster and Katharine McPhee on opening night, followed by Canadian icon Avril Lavigne. Earlier this June, Hard Rock Live hosted the 2025 PWHL Draft and Awards—its first official event—cementing its place as a premier venue for national-level programming.
Inside Hard Rock Live, designed to seat 1,900 and host up to 2,200—ready to open with headline acts like David Foster and Avril Lavigne.
Next up: a world-class championship boxing event on September 20, 2025, headlined by Sara Bailey, the fastest professional world champion in Canadian boxing history. Bailey will defend her WBA Female Light-Flyweight World Title inside Hard Rock Live, a fitting moment of national pride on a local stage.
An action-packed rendering shows championship boxing under Hard Rock’s iconic stage lighting. Canadian Sara Bailey will defend her title at the venue on September 20, 2025.
“This venue was built to deliver world-class entertainment—sporting events included,” says Crump. “Hosting a title fight right here in our city is exactly the experience we promised.”
The event is produced in partnership with Tyler Buxton, owner of United Boxing Promotions, who has worked with Crump on high-profile cards across the GTA and Montreal for over 15 years. Their shared history ensures the upcoming event will match the prestige and scale of their past collaborations.
A full “fight week” experience is planned—open workouts, media events, and official weigh-ins, which will be staged on the Hard Rock Cafe stage in front of a live audience. “Having the official weigh-ins on the Hard Rock Café stage will be an iconic moment for UBP,” says Buxton.
The venue has already proven its range. Earlier this summer, Hard Rock Live hosted the 2025 PWHL Draft and Awards, further cementing its role as a new cultural and entertainment center in Ottawa.
Guests staying at the hotel can expect the brand’s signature Sleep Like a Rock® comfort, with 150 rooms—including 22 suites and 19 accessible rooms—designed with modern elegance and music-infused detail. From plush bedding to curated artwork, every element channels the brand’s roots while delivering elevated comfort.
A rendering of Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Hard Rock Ottawa’s signature fine dining restaurant.
The dining lineup is just as ambitious, anchored by Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, and flanked by the quick-serve Hard Rock Market with local-inspired eats like Brick’d and Shawarma. Lounge spaces are tailored for day-to-night energy, and additional restaurants are planned in later phases—including the fan-favourite Youyu® Asian cuisine concept.
Construction on the original Rideau Carleton Casino continues through the year, with expanded gaming space and event infrastructure set to be unveiled in phase two.
For Crump, whose journey began in Ontario and led her through OLG and One Toronto Gaming, this project brings everything full circle. “There are personal sacrifices involved with a build of this scale, but the payoff is seeing our team step into this new space with pride and swagger,” she says. “Many have been here since 2017, waiting for this moment. That’s not lost on me.”
Hard Rock Ottawa’s impact extends well beyond its walls. The property is deeply embedded in the community through its Hard Rock Heals Foundation®, which supports nonprofit organizations and local causes worldwide. This summer, the resort will host Race for Wishes in support of Make-A-Wish Canada, and in February, the popular Wine for Wishes fundraiser will return—this time onsite.
The brand’s presence has also bolstered Ottawa’s visibility in pro sports, through partnerships with the Ottawa Charge, the capital’s Professional Women’s Hockey League team, and a commitment to supporting women in leadership and sport.
Ottawa may have been an underdog when it first caught Hard Rock International’s attention in 2017, but it offered something no other city could: a proud local spirit, deep cultural fabric, and a historic racetrack site that made Hard Rock’s first Canadian resort uniquely grounded.
Now, with doors open and a stacked summer lineup underway, the city has its encore moment.
Hard Rock hasn’t just arrived. It’s amplified Ottawa!
