Share
Management at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol announced on June 5 that the grand opening of the permanent location is pushed back to later this year.
This decision was first disclosed in the casino’s news release, which News Channel 11 (WJHL 11) reported and emphasized a revised completion timeline.
Key takeaways
- Virginia casino was initially targeted for July. In the meantime, Hard Rock operates a 30,000-square-foot temporary facility named “Bristol Casino—Future Home of Hard Rock.”
- Apart from gaming, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol will offer world-class dining, entertainment options, and concert venues.
- Hard Rock Bristol is among the state’s three brick-and-mortar casinos offering slots and table games.
Hard Rock Bristol’s permanent casino opening planned for later this year
As the casino announced via a press release, a new timeline for the permanent location and resort’s completion involves a late-year grand opening. The release says:
“Instead of opening the permanent casino in stages beginning in July, the partnership team prefers to have a grand opening with a fully operational casino and amenities for an overall better guest experience.”
Casino leadership said recent legislation grants Virginia casino operators an extra six months to complete their projects if they have a temporary casino that will be part of the permanent structure and have met their financial commitments.
More than 600 construction workers are on site each day, working to complete the permanent casino, while Hard Rock continues to hire for dozens of positions in various roles.
According to WJHL 11, President of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol Allie Evangelista said:
“The response to our temporary casino has been overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating the excitement for Hard Rock’s permanent presence in Bristol. While we are eager to unveil the new resort, this extension allows us time to ensure the finished product exceeds the expectations of our guests and the community.”
However, Hard Rock Bristol hasn’t revealed a specific month or date for the opening.
What will the new location bring?
Once completed, the $550 million Virginia casino project will include:
- 2,700 slot machines
- 100 table games
- A sportsbook
- a 750-room hotel
- 3,200-seat concert theater
- An outdoor entertainment center with a 20,000-seat capacity
The venue will also feature bars, restaurants, and shopping areas.
HR Bristol’s revenue is expected to increase
The Virginia Lottery Board approved the Bristol casino license in April 2022, and Hard Rock’s temporary facility opened to the public on July 8, 2022.
HR Bristol posted the lowest gaming revenue in VA for April 2024 among the state’s three casinos. That has also been the case since the beginning of the year:
- HR Bristol’s April casino revenue: $13.94 million (of the total $60.12 million)
- HR Bristol’s March revenue: $16.27 million (of the total $65.09 million)
- HR Bristol’s February revenue: $13.35 million (of the total $57.34 million)
- HR Bristol’s January revenue: $12.08 million (of the total $52.86 million)
Washington County Administrator and Regional Improvement Commission Chairman Jason Berry said that once the full casino and hotel opens, “big things could be in store.” Berry said in a Bristol Casino Newsroom release: “It’s likely to drive more traffic, I would think, and more traffic will be more revenue.”
