Vancouver casino to rebrand as Hard Rock Casino

The iconic Hard Rock brand that is so familiar to Canadian tourists on the Strip is coming to Vancouver.

The Great Canadian Gaming Corporation said Wednesday it is rebranding its Boulevard Casino into the first Hard Rock Casino in Canada in a multi-million-dollar upgrade that’s expected to be completed later this year.

The property employs 700 people and includes an 80,00-square-foot casino, as well as a 1,000-seat state-of-the-art theater. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are excited for the addition of Hard Rock Casino Vancouver to our growing family,” said Jody Lake, chief operating officer for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. “This expansion is another testament to the strength of the Hard Rock Casino brand.”

HRHH IP LLC, owned by an affiliate of Brookfield Property Partners, is the exclusive licensee of the Hard Rock Hotel and Hard Rock Casino. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is the firm’s flagship property.

HRHH IP also will open a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, Iowa, in mid-2014.