Hard Rock Ready to Open Virginia Casino as Company Continues Expansion Spree

Posted on: October 10, 2024, 09:13h. 

Last updated on: October 10, 2024, 10:09h.

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

Hard Rock International will open its Virginia casino resort next month and the celebration will include one of the biggest stars in country music.

Hard Rock Bristol Virginia casino
The permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol will open in November. It’s set to become the second permanent casino property in Virginia to open after Rivers Casino Portsmouth. (Image: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol)

Hard Rock, the hospitality and gaming conglomerate owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, announced this week that its portfolio will expand next month by way of Virginia. The $515 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol on the Virginia border with Tennessee will open at noon on November 14.

Located adjacent to the former Bristol Mall at 500 Gate City Highway, Hard Rock Bristol will replace a temporary casino that has operated inside the former Belk department store since July 2022.

The permanent resort features 303 hotel rooms, seven restaurants and bars, including Hard Rock’s signature Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Hard Rock Live, a 23K-square-foot concert venue with seating for 2,000 audience members that will also be used for special events, and a retail Rock Shop selling rock ‘n’ roll-themed memorabilia.

As for gaming, Hard Rock Bristol will offer gamblers nearly 1,500 slot machines, over 50 live dealer table games, and a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. 

Opening Headliner

Hard Rock brass and Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacey, the local businessmen who led the lobbying fight in Richmond for Virginia to legalize commercial casinos and to designate Bristol as a qualifying host location, will be on hand next month to officially open the property. Hard Rock will conduct its signature “Guitar Smash” to celebrate the casino’s commencement.

The demolishing of a perfectly fine guitar won’t be all that turns out attendees, as one of the biggest names in country music is also set to appear. Hard Rock reps say Blake Shelton will perform to help ring in the resort.

Hard Rock’s rich history fits perfectly with Bristol’s distinction as the ‘Birthplace of Country Music.’ With this property, Bristol — and the entire region — will have a new major entertainment destination,” said Jon Lucas, Hard Rock’s chief operating officer.

Bristol is regarded as the birthplace of country music for being where Fiddlin’ John Carson reordered his rendition of the “Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane.” The folk track is widely considered the first commercial recording of what became known as “country music.”

Hard Rock’s Big Bets

Hard Rock International remains bullish on the US commercial gaming industry. Its Bristol opening comes just weeks after the company debuted Hard Rock Rockford in Illinois.

While Hard Rock is more of an operator of the Bristol and Rockford properties, as local businesspeople are the primary landowners of each casino, Hard Rock is betting big in Las Vegas with its multibillion-dollar transformation of The Mirage on the Strip.

Hard Rock is also partnered with billionaire Steve Cohen for an integrated casino resort bid in New York City’s Queens at his Citi Field MLB ballpark. Cohen and Hard Rock want to build an $8 billion casino and entertainment destination next to the New York Mets home.

Hard Rock additionally continues to expand its Hard Rock online gaming and sports betting business. Hard Rock Chair Jim Allen said this week that the company is open to aligning with DraftKings or FanDuel for iGaming.