written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
12 Feb 2024
Journalist, Editorial Department
Construction of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol in Virginia is progressing rapidly. Casino President Ellie Evangelista announced that the venue is set to open in the second half of 2024, although a specific date has yet to be established. In the meantime, a temporary casino will continue to operate in the city, which has been open to visitors since July 2022.
According to Evangelista, the hotel building is already complete, and work is currently underway on the 300 guest rooms, which are expected to be finished by the end of the year. The casino aims to open by July 2024, featuring 1,500 slot machines and 75 table games. The facility will also include several restaurants, including a Hard Rock Cafe, and an entertainment venue called Hard Rock Live.
Evangelista noted that the project's cost has risen from $400 million to $550 million due to increased construction expenses and upgrades to various amenities. The permanent hotel-casino will also require an expansion of its workforce. Currently employing around 600 people, Hard Rock plans to increase its staff to 1,300 by the end of the year. Vice President of Human Resources Marina Alvidres stated that the company is actively seeking interested candidates and will host a series of events to attract them. Alvidres added that the casino offers quality jobs with opportunities for career advancement.
Evangelista believes that the temporary Hard Rock establishment has been successful. Since its opening a year and a half ago, the casino has paid out jackpots totaling over $172 million. The state has received more than $42 million in gaming taxes, with $28 million of that amount collected in 2023 alone.
According to Evangelista, the casino is successfully developing its tourism sector as planned, and the situation is expected to improve further with the opening of the permanent facility. "We have over 120,000 guests registered in our loyalty program here in Bristol," she said.
In related news, Gun Lake Casino is set to build a new gaming room, an Asian cuisine restaurant, and a bar.
