Hard Rock Casino Counts Down To Grand Opening

By Latoya Silmon, News On 6

CATOOSA, OK -- The former Cherokee Casino in Catoosa is now the Hard Rock Casino and with less than a month until its grand opening, things are quite busy. 

Gamers try their luck at the casino every day with about 2,300 games all under one roof.  With those kinds of numbers, the odds are they'll find a game they like. 

The Hard Rock Casino is not banking on just gaming to get you in the door. 

"We're really catering to our customers the one that play here to develop that loyalty," said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment. 

Say hello to a new name and a new era for the casino in Catoosa.  Usually when you see Hard Rock you see it in places like Dallas, Las Vegas and Madrid.  Did you ever think you'd see one in Tulsa? 

"Absolutely not!  When we talked to Hard Rock they kind of said Tulsa?  Then we brought them here and they saw our property and they saw the dynamic of Tulsa, one that's a little bit rock-n-roll and a little bit country," David Stewart said. 

Stewart says the new casino will have memorabilia, like Eric Clapton's guitar and a tribute to Oklahoma's own, Toby Keith.  In the casino is Toby Keith's Bar and Grill.  The country crooner's cafe is currently under construction and so is a new 40,000 square foot convention center. 

"We believe people will actually travel a pretty good distance to come here.  We're going to see some Texas travel, Missouri, even Arkansas and Kansas.  Because people want to come to Hard Rock," said David Stewart.

There is a new nightclub, restaurants, jewelry store and of course a Hard Rock store will also flank the casino.  Plus there are new Hard Rock suites loaded with luxuries.  Some of those suites are 1,200 square feet. 

It's a gamble Stewart is confident will pay off for the Cherokee Nation. 

"We call it a license to have fun," David Stewart said. 

The grand opening is set for August 3^rd. 

The event will be packed with star power, with Oklahoma's own Toby Keith scheduled to be in attendance.