Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol swung open its doors today, November 14, marking a significant milestone with the ceremonial guitar smashing, welcoming the resort’s inaugural guests with flair. Situated on the Virginia-Tennessee border, this $515 million establishment has become the second permanent casino in Virginia since the state passed legislation in 2020 allowing commercial casinos. This move was largely championed by Bristol businessmen Jim McGlothlin of United Co. and Clyde Stacy of Par Ventures, who aimed to bring the glitz of Las Vegas-style gambling to Virginia.
Following legislative approval to spur economic growth through casino developments in five selected cities, McGlothlin and Stacy joined forces with Hard Rock International. When Bristol residents voted on the matter in November 2020, more than 71% were in favor, the highest support among the four cities with successful casino referendums during that election.
Now, four years later, Hard Rock’s ambitious project has become a reality, embodying more than half a billion dollars of investment. “It was a moonshot,” McGlothlin reflected on overturning Virginia’s casino gambling ban. With over 1,000 people employed at the resort, tens of millions in local taxes already generated from a temporary casino, and a towering 45-foot guitar gracing the entrance of the 620,000-square-foot facility, McGlothlin perceives no regrets. “I bet if we did the referendum today, we’d get 90% support,” the recently titled “Bristol Living Legend” remarked during the opening ceremony.
True to the Hard Rock ethos, music remains at the heart of this new integrated resort. With live music planned most nights and major acts scheduled throughout the week, the venue is positioned as a prime entertainment hub. Kicking off its musical offerings, country music superstar Blake Shelton headlines tonight’s sold-out opening concert at the Hard Rock Live venue, which seats 2,000. Shelton’s performance is particularly meaningful, as Bristol is celebrated as the birthplace of country music, a legacy rooted in Fiddlin’ John Carson’s recording of “Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” back in 1923.
Inside, Hard Rock Bristol boasts an expansive gaming floor with 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, and a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. The resort’s 303-room hotel features a variety of dining options, including a Hard Rock Café, the premier steak and seafood house Council Oak, and a diverse food court marketplace offering everything from fried chicken and soul food to a noodle bar. Music lovers will also appreciate the curated memorabilia, which includes items from icons like Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash.
Virginia, once known for its restrictive gaming regulations, is rapidly evolving into a significant gaming market. With Hard Rock Bristol now open, it joins Rivers Casino Portsmouth, a non-hotel property that debuted in January 2023, in this burgeoning landscape. Caesars Entertainment plans to unveil a $750 million casino resort in Danville next month, while construction continues on another casino in Norfolk and a recently approved development in Petersburg by The Cordish Companies, renowned for their Live!-branded properties. Additionally, Churchill Downs has launched The Rose gaming resort in Dumfries, featuring slot-like historical racing machines.
