Virginia's Permanent Casino Resort at Hard Rock Bristol Sets Back Launch to $550 Million
The opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol, Virginia, has been delayed. The developers behind the $550 million integrated resort, including Hard Rock International owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, have changed their plans to open the whole resort and hotel at once instead of in phases.
A statement from Hard Rock said the grand opening, now anticipated for later this year, will result in an “overall better guest experience” with a “fully functional casino and amenities.”
In the meantime, Hard Rock has been running a temporary casino in Bristol inside a former Belk department store next to the site of the future resort. This provisional casino features around 900 slot machines, 30 table games, and sports betting. The temporary casino generated almost $160 million in gross gaming revenue last year.
The resort will also include an online sportsbook called Hard Rock Bet.
Hurdles
A law passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 allows the local governments of five cities to consider a commercial casino project to stimulate economic growth. The projects must first be approved by local voters through a ballot referendum.
The Bristol City Council chose Hard Rock International for the project and presented its proposal to voters during the November 2020 election. More than 71% of Bristol voters supported the Hard Rock development, initially expected to cost around $300 million.
By the time construction began in late 2022, Hard Rock said the estimated budget had risen to $400 million. Due to escalating material and labor costs, Hard Rock raised the budget again in February to $550 million – 83% more than the initial projection.
Lasting Impressions
Hard Rock International is working with Virginia businessmen Clyde Stacey of Par Ventures LLC and Jim McGlothlin's United Company on the project. The consortium thinks opening the resort in stages would harm guests' initial impressions of the destination.
Allie Evangelista, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, commented, “We were thrilled by the response to our temporary casino, demonstrating the enthusiasm for Hard Rock’s permanent establishment in Bristol. While we are excited to showcase the new resort, this delay will allow us time to ensure our guests and the community are satisfied with the finished product.”
When it finally opens, the permanent casino will have 1,500 slots, 75 table games, and a larger Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. The resort itself will consist of 300 hotel rooms, several restaurants and bars, retail shopping, and two live music venues: an indoor 3,200-seat Hard Rock Live and an outdoor amphitheater with seating for 20,000 people.
Hard Rock Bristol will primarily target customers from neighboring Tennessee and North Carolina, where commercial casinos are still prohibited. As the city located on the Virginia-North Carolina border, Bristol is known as the “Birthplace of Country Music” for being where the first country music song was recorded.
Read also:
- Leverkusen claims victory in the cup, securing a double triumph.
- Alonso achieves a double victory after consuming a German brew.
- Does the SVolt factory in Saarland face stability issues?
- Furor surrounding Sylt scandal footage