Officials held a groundbreaking today for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in downtown Sioux City. Bill Warner is with Sioux City Entertainment which is building the facility to replace the riverboat casino.

“Each month that passes you’re going to see a lot of change happen on the site, you’re going to hear us talk about the project. We’re going to deliver on the promises that we made through the RFP process, and really build a project that you guys can be proud of,” Warner told those gathered for the event.

He also thanked those who supported their concept over the others that were proposed.He says the people who wrote letters and made phone calls and gave them support online are what brought the project to fruition.

The $120-million casino and hotel is slated to open sometime in the summer of 2014.

By Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City