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Cedar Crossing Casino developers to announce new opening date July 30 at NewBo City Market

Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell will join Peninsula Pacific Entertainment for a public event revealing the revised timeline and entertainment lineup for the $275 million project.

By Jordan BeckPublished Jul 27, 2026, 12:27 AM CT1 min read
AI-generated editorial scene: A wide-angle view of the NewBo City Market interior during midday, showing natural light streaming through large industrial windows onto the open concrete floor. A cluster of empty metal folding chairs is arranged in a semicircle near the center of the hall, facing an unoccupied wooden stage. In the background, the brick walls and exposed steel rafters of the market provide a clear, neutral setting for the upcoming public gathering.
AI-generated editorial photo · CR Pulse Graphics Desk

Developers of the Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center will announce a new grand opening date and entertainment lineup Thursday, July 30, at 4 p.m. at NewBo City Market. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell will join representatives from Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and the Linn County Gaming Association for the public event, which will include a performance by The Pork Tornadoes.

The $275 million casino project has been under construction since a February 2025 groundbreaking, when developers targeted a New Year's Eve 2026 opening. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved the gaming license by a 4-1 vote on Feb. 6, 2025, after rejecting Linn County applications in 2014 and 2017.

Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, through its subsidiary Cedar Rapids Development Group, is developing the project in partnership with the Linn County Gaming Association. Brent Stevens, P2E's founder and board chairman, said in a February 2025 release that the company was thankful to the commission for "giving us a fair shot at sharing our vision."

Neighboring business owners have been preparing for the casino's impact. Greg Stoll, owner of CR Midnight Smoker BBQ near the construction site, said in June he was "excited for the whole thing to get finished" and anticipated a business boom.

The July 30 announcement will mark the first public reveal of planned entertainment acts for the venue. The public is encouraged to attend.

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Sources

  1. 1.Major updates expected next week on Cedar Crossing Casino, including new opening date — KGAN / Iowa's News Now (CBS 2)
  2. 2.Linn County secures gaming license for Cedar Rapids casino after years of setbacks — KGAN / Iowa's News Now (CBS 2)
  3. 3.Iowa gaming regulators grant Cedar Rapids license for $275 million casino — Iowa Public Radio
  4. 4.New Cedar Rapids casino to open on New Year's Eve 2026 — Corridor Business Journal
  5. 5.Cedar Crossing Casino to open in 6 months, BBQ restaurant prepares for business boom — KCRG (ABC 9)
  6. 6.Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center approved by Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission — Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) — official developer press release
  7. 7.Cedar Rapids casino breaks ground; opening set for late 2026 — iGaming Business
  8. 8.Upcoming U.S. casino openings: Ho-Chunk Beloit and Cedar Crossing set 2026 debuts — Mundo Video Entertainment

This story was researched and drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.

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