Published on: November 12, 2024, 11:26h.
Last updated on: November 12, 2024, 11:26h.
The Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock was heralded as Virginia’s inaugural casino upon its launch at the former Bristol Mall in July 2022. The interim casino shut its doors early yesterday morning to pave the way for the grand opening of the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol facility adjacent.
The gaming area that occupied a former Belk department store for over two years has officially ceased operations. Representatives of the integrated resort affirm that gaming will recommence on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 12:00 PM local time, with the commencement of the permanent destination.
Country music icon Blake Shelton will be performing to commemorate the inauguration of the resort.
This marks a significant milestone as preparations conclude for the grand opening of the permanent facility,” posted Hard Rock Bristol on its social platforms. “The permanent establishment features over 620,000 square feet of gaming, entertainment, dining, and lodging accommodations.”
The provisional gaming operation of Hard Rock proved to be highly successful for the collaborating developers and owners of the forthcoming site. The temporary casino generated approximately $145 million in gross gaming revenue last year alone.
Hard Rock indicates that come Thursday, patrons registered in the casino’s Unity by Hard Rock rewards program will witness a “seamless” transition of their points to the permanent casino.
Resort Ready
Hard Rock International, under the ownership of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, spearheads the Bristol undertaking in partnership with Virginia entrepreneurs Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy.
McGlothlin and Stacy, prominent figures in coal mining, are praised for Virginia’s transformation into a commercial gaming state following their advocacy for a casino legislation in 2020.
Previously, Virginia had stricter gaming regulations, as it lacked any commercial or tribal casinos. The 2020 gaming bill enabled certain cities facing economic challenges to pursue a casino for job creation and tax revenues.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Bristol from 2018 to 2022, adjusted for 2022 inflation, was merely $45,250, nearly half of the state average of $87,249 during the same period. Approximately 17% of Bristol’s population resided in poverty over the five-year span, surpassing the Virginia average by seven percentage points.
Hard Rock Bristol has recruited over 1,000 staff members but is actively seeking more team members, affectionately termed as “band members” by the company.
$515M Investment
Hard Rock, McGlothlin, and Stacy are making a substantial investment in Bristol. The casino resort had an initial projected cost of $400 million when it was presented to local voters in 2020.
The final budget saw a 29% increase, amounting to $515 million in total investment. The developers cited escalating goods and labor costs for the surge in expenses.
The Hard Rock Bristol casino floor launching on Thursday features 1,500 slots, 50 live dealer tables, and a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. The resort boasts 303 guest rooms, a 2,000-seat concert venue and event space, and a Hard Rock Shop.
The resort will introduce a range of dining options to Southern Virginia, from a food court marketplace to upscale dining featuring Hard Rock’s renowned Council Oak Steak & Seafood. A Hard Rock Café will also make its debut.
The hotel will be open for stays starting Friday, Nov. 15. Rates begin at $599 for Friday, dropping to $159 the following week. A standard guestroom for the opening night costs $741.52 after taxes and resort fees.