Bristol Casino Groundbreaking Marks A Hard Rock Milestone In Virginia

Written By Marian Rosin on November 14, 2022 – Last Updated on December 8, 2022

Anticipate an increase in construction traffic at the Bristol Mall in the near future, with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hard Rock Bristol Casino following shortly after.

Allie Evangelista, the president of the casino, is scheduled to lead a groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol later this month.

Guests at Bristol Casino, the future residence of Hard Rock, will need to excuse the inconveniences caused by ongoing construction, including dust and noise.

Moving ahead

According to a spokesperson from Hard Rock, Evangelista mentioned that while waiting for plan approval, Hard Rock Bristol had a construction company ready and waiting. Recently, executives from Hard Rock International visited Bristol and approved the details. Meanwhile, the projected plans for the future permanent casino in Bristol have remained consistent.

100,000+ sq. ft.-casino
Almost 30,000 slots
100 table games
20,000-seat, outdoor live-music venue
3,200-seat amphitheater
retail shops
spa
pool

Evangelista alluded to the existence of additional offerings yet to be disclosed regarding the project. Although Hard Rock has not provided a definitive cost estimate, they anticipate an upgrade worth around $500 million in the city of Bristol.

Additionally, the initiative will contribute to the expansion of the labor force within the Tennessee-Virginia border region.

Breaking cultural barriers at the Bristol Casino groundbreaking

The Bristol Chamber invited the Hard Rock team to present their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy to community business and youth leaders. During the presentation, the team highlighted their platform called “5 Reasons Why,” which discussed the significance of adapting to changing demographics and the moral and ethical value of fostering a diverse workforce.

The company employs a dual approach to harness diversity objectives.

Improve the overall experience of team members.
Expand the Hard Rock enterprise

Hard Rock has successfully recruited more than 600 employees for various roles, including both front and back-of-house positions. These jobs encompass a wide spectrum of positions ranging from entry-level to managerial roles. Demonstrating their dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, a spokesperson from Hard Rock shared with PlayVirginia their commitment towards these principles.

The casino’s current forecasts indicate that an additional 600 team members will be hired by 2025. Their aim is to have a complete staff ready for the grand opening of Hard Rock.

In order to achieve this objective, the HR department of the casino will collaborate with a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team. Working together, they will devise a talent acquisition plan tailored to the Bristol region. Subsequently, they will establish connections with various community partners such as higher education institutions, economic development organizations, nonprofits, and others.

Consequently, this would result in Hard Rock organizing various recruitment initiatives such as job fairs and marketing campaigns within the hosting area.

Early numbers prove promising

As the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bristol casino approaches, the temporary Bristol Mall location is witnessing an impressive influx of visitors. A staggering number of nearly 40,000 individuals from all corners of the United States have made their way to the site, resulting in a remarkable total of 109,000 visits to the casino.

Due to the absence of hotel accommodations, the temporary casino primarily attracts local visitors, which is reflected in the fact that over 50% of Hard Rock Bristol’s current patrons reside within a 50-mile distance.

The future destination resort will feature 700 hotel rooms as part of its permanent site plans.

In just nine days, the temporary casino at Hard Rock Bristol witnessed wagers exceeding $37 million from its visitors, with around $35 million being contributed to the Hard Rock slots.

In the initial quarter, the gross gaming revenue amounted to approximately $40.3 million, leading to tax payments of $7.3 million for the state.
According to Evangelista, the casino’s first four months saw a pleasant surprise in the number of sign-ups for their customer loyalty program. Hard Rock Bristol had initially anticipated around 25,000 enrollments, but to their delight, over 50,000 visitors have already joined, surpassing their expectations by doubling the anticipated amount.

In addition to that, the casino made generous contributions exceeding $22,000 to various charitable organizations. Hard Rock Bristol also intends to collaborate with the Feeding Southwest Virginia Food Bank and the Salvation Army in November.

Expressing her anticipation, Evangelista conveyed her optimism for the upcoming holiday season and the subsequent winter months. She highlighted that the region provides numerous seasonal activities during the warmer months, but these options diminish as the temperatures drop. Consequently, she remarked, “We experience a significant surge in activity between Christmas and New Year’s.”

Bristol Casino groundbreaking leads to 2025 plans

Although the grand opening of the permanent site is still a year and a half away, visitors to the temporary site can still partake in various enjoyable activities.