The new $500 million permanent Hard Rock Bristol casino resort has surpassed the operator’s expectations in customer visitation and spend, officials at Hard Rock International have said.
The Bristol, Virginia, casino resort opened on November 14 after nearly three years of construction.
The operator also told local media that the casino has handed out $12 million in jackpot prizes in that opening two weeks.
The resort’s hotel was 99% occupied all opening weekend, and its Hard Rock Cafe was one of the most successful of any Hard Rock eatery launches in recent years, management said.
“Feedback was amazing. Everybody is extremely impressed with the property and it was exactly what we wanted to hear,” said Hard Rock Bristol President Allie Evangelista, talking to local media earlier this week.
“It was much better than expectations in both visitation and revenues. Our jackpot payouts obviously correlate to the number of people in the building and how well everybody is perceiving the property. So much play generates more payouts.”
The Opening
The 620,000-square-foot venue, on the edge of the city of Bristol, was opened with much fanfare from locals, out-of-state visitors, and Hard Rock staff and bigwigs.
The resort is already employing more than 1,000 people, with 400 more expected in the coming months.
More than 58,000 people visited the casino over its opening November weekend. Management and local media said they spoke to people who had traveled from as far as several states over to visit the venue, including visitors from Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The casino says that opening weekend it handed out $7 million in jackpots. That high figure, management said, showed just how much people were playing to boost the progressives that quickly.
The Resort
Hard Rock Bristol has 1,500 slot machines and more than 50 table games on its casino floor.
It also has a 300-room hotel tower, complete with spa, as well half a dozen dining and nightlife options, a 2,000-seat concert venue, and several Hard Rock-themed memorabilia exhibits and stores.
“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.”
The impressive venture is one of three new casinos to open in Virginia in recent years. Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened in 2023, and then Caesars Virginia in Danville is set to open on December 12, 2024.
Voters in the state capital of Richmond twice rejected a plan to build a casino in their city limits.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
