Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol celebrates grand opening in Virginia

When the temporary Bristol Casino location opened in July of 2022, it represented the state’s first casino.
Key Points
- The grand opening ceremony featured Hard Rock executives and partners, as well as state and local officials, community members and business leaders
- The resort features nearly 1500 slot machines, over 50 table games, a sportsbook and high-limit gaming areas
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in Virginia celebrated its grand opening ceremony with a number of Hard Rock executives and partners in attendance. State and local officials, community members and business leaders also took part in the ceremony.
“This is such a monumental moment for the Bristol community and Hard Rock,” Hard Rock International COO Jon Lucas said.
“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 its temporary facility, Bristol Casino, from July 2022 through November 11, 2024. At the time of opening, Bristol Casino represented the first casino to be launched in Virginia.
President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol Allie Evangelista spoke on what the new resort means for the community, having said, “This is such an amazing day for 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.”
Good to know: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon, which is scheduled to open in late 2025, held a topping off ceremony on October 1 to celebrate the final steel beam being placed
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol will offer guests nearly 1500 slot machines, over 50 table games, a sportsbook and a high-limit gaming area. The temporary casino welcomed over three million guests during its tenure and paid more than $68m in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Hard Rock International will be continuing the grand opening festivities with a pair of performances from music artists Blake Shelton on November 14 and Soul Asylum on November 16.
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