The Daily Dig
Bally's Chicago placed the final structural beam at its permanent casino site on April 30, marking a topping-off milestone at 560 W. Grand Ave. on the Chicago River. The ceremony brought together Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., Bally's Executive Chairman Soo Kim, union leaders, and members of the Chicago Community Builders Collective alongside the tradespeople building the project.
More than 1,000 tradespeople have worked on the project to date. The $1.7 billion development sits on 30 acres at the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site and is scheduled to open in spring 2027.
The completed project will include 3,400 slot machines, 173 table games, a 500-room hotel tower with rooftop bar, a 3,000-seat entertainment theater, 10 food and beverage venues in partnership with Levy Hospitality, 3,300 parking spaces, and public riverfront outdoor space.
WATG is leading interior design across gaming, entertainment, and social areas. Bally's expects the development to generate approximately 3,000 permanent jobs for the Chicago area.
Snapshot:
Project: Bally's Chicago Permanent Casino
General Contractor: Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC)
Address: 560 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL
Developer/Owner: Bally's Chicago
Executive Chairman: Soo Kim
Interior Design: WATG
F&B Partner: Levy Hospitality
Site: Former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center (30 acres)
Total Project Value: $1.7 billion
Milestone: Topping-off ceremony, final structural beam placed April 30, 2026
Target Opening: Spring 2027
Tradespeople On-Site To Date: 1,000+
Labor: Union trades represented; Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC) involved
Projected Permanent Jobs: ~3,000
Amenities: 3,400 slot machines, 173 table games, 500-room hotel tower with rooftop bar, 3,000-seat entertainment theater and event center, 10 F&B venues, 3,300 parking spaces, public riverfront outdoor spaces
Sector: Hospitality / Entertainment / Mixed-Use
TheJobWalk Thoughts
The main structural frame has topped out, which means the interior phases are next to load up on the schedule. On a spring 2027 target, MEP rough-in, interior buildout, and FF&E coordination are all compressing toward each other quickly.
The scope here touches nearly every trade. A hotel tower, entertainment theater, structured parking, 10 food and beverage venues, and riverfront activation do not get built by a short list of subcontractors. If you are a sub or supplier who has not yet positioned on this project, the time to make that call is now, not after the remaining packages are spoken for.
