BRISTOL, VA – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol celebrated its grand opening with Hard Rock’s iconic guitar smash ceremony. The event featured Hard Rock executives and partners, state and local officials, local community members, and business and civic leaders, and was followed by the casino officially opening its doors to the public.
Located at 500 Gate City Highway in Bristol, the 620,000 sq. ft. resort features nearly 1,500 slot machines, more than 50 table games, a sportsbook, 300-plus hotel rooms and seven unique dining options, including a signature Hard Rock Cafe. The venue also offers a 2,000-plus seat Hard Rock Live, Rock Shop, designated non-smoking and high-limit gaming areas, authentic music memorabilia and more.
“This is such a monumental moment for the Bristol community and Hard Rock,” said Jon Lucas, COO of Hard Rock International. “Hard Rock’s music heritage is a natural fit for Bristol, the ‘Birthplace of Country Music.’ We look forward to serving Bristol and the surrounding region with world-class gaming, dining and entertainment offerings.”
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol operated from its temporary facility, ‘Bristol Casino – Future Home of Hard Rock,’ from July 2022 until Nov. 11, 2024. The temporary casino welcomed more than three million guests, paid over $68 million in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Virginia, donated more than $960,000 to support local community non-profit organizations, and paid over $262 million in jackpots. The project created approximately 900 to 1,000 construction-specific jobs and is expected to create over 1,400 full-time and part-time jobs.
“This is such an amazing day for Bristol,” said Allie Evangelista, President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. “The support from the Bristol community has been inspirational to our dedicated team, which has worked around the clock to prepare for today’s grand opening. We look forward to offering guests Hard Rock’s world-renowned amenities combined with Bristol’s legendary hospitality and service.”