Hard Rock Closes Temporary Casino, Permanent Resort in Bristol Readies to Open

Posted on: November 12, 2024, 11:26h. 

Last updated on: November 12, 2024, 01:03h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

The Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock was billed as Virginia’s first casino when it opened inside the former Bristol Mall in July 2022. The temporary casino closed its doors early Monday morning to make way for the grand opening of the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol property next door.

Hard Rock Bristol casino Virginia gaming
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is opening in Virginia on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Country music superstar Blake Shelton will help ring in the property. (Image: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol)

The casino space that operated inside a former Belk department store for more than two years has formally closed. Officials with the integrated resort say gaming will return on Thursday, November 14, at noon local time, when the doors to the permanent destination open.

Country music superstar Blake Shelton will perform to celebrate the resort’s opening.

This marks a significant milestone as preparations are finalized for the grand opening of the permanent facility,” Hard Rock Bristol shared on its socials. “The permanent facility boasts more than 620,000 square feet of gaming, entertainment, dining, and hospitality space.”

Hard Rock’s provisional gaming operation was a resounding success for the co-developers and owners of the forthcoming property. The temporary casino generated gross gaming revenue of about $145 million last year alone.

Hard Rock says that come Thursday, patrons enrolled in the casino’s Unity by Hard Rock rewards program will see their points “seamlessly” transition to the permanent casino.

Resort Ready 

Hard Rock International, owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is behind the Bristol project in conjunction with Virginia businessmen Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy.

McGlothlin and Stacy, who amassed their wealth through coal mining, have been credited for Virginia becoming a commercial gaming state, as the two business leaders lobbied state lawmakers to pass a casino bill in 2020.

Previously, Virginia was among the more restrictive gaming states, as the commonwealth wasn’t home to any commercial or tribal casinos. The 2020 gaming bill allowed certain cities experiencing economic hardship to consider a casino to generate jobs and tax revenue.

According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Bristol between 2018 and 2022, in 2022 dollars, was just $45,250. That’s almost half of the statewide average of $87,249 during that same timeframe. About 17% of the Bristol population lived in poverty during the five-year period, seven percentage points higher than the Virginia average.

Hard Rock Bristol has hired over 1,000 employees but continues to seek additional team members, which the company affectionally calls “band members.”

$515M Investment

Hard Rock, McGlothlin, and Stacy are betting big on Bristol. The casino resort was originally slated to cost $400 million when it was pitched to local voters in 2020.

The final budget ballooned 29%, or $115 million, to a total investment of $515 million. The developers cited higher costs of goods and labor for the expense surge.

The Hard Rock Bristol casino floor opening on Thursday has 1,500 slots, 50 live dealer table games, and a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. The resort includes 303 guestrooms, a 2,000-seat concert hall and events space, and a Hard Rock Shop. The resort will also bring an array of dining options to Southern Virginia from a food court marketplace to fine dining with Hard Rock’s signature Council Oak Steak & Seafood. A Hard Rock Café is also forthcoming.

The hotel is opening for stays beginning Friday, November 15. Rates start at $599 for Friday but drop to $159 next week. For a stay on opening night, a standard guestroom comes to $741.52 after taxes and a resort fee.