Residents of the Virginia city of Bristol were offered on Thursday a first close-up look at the proposed Hard Rock Hotel & Casino before they cast their vote on the project at the November 3 ballot.
Hard Rock International representatives and business leaders from the area on Thursday unveiled a 3D model of the planned casino at the former Bristol Mall where the proposed hotel and casino resort will be developed if voters approve it.
The model displays the exterior of the future casino complex and a 350-room hotel building with a pool and outdoor entertainment area.
The casino portion of the proposed Hard Rock resort will feature two levels. Aside from the gaming area with up to 2,700 slot machines and up to 100 table games, the complex will feature seven dining outlets, four bars, a 3,200-seat indoor entertainment venue, an outdoor entertainment venue with capacity for 20,000 people, a Hard Rock Cafe, retail space, a spa and fitness center, and a 35,000-square-foot meeting and convention venue.
Hard Rock Bristol is projected to create 2,000 new jobs and to generate more than $15 million in tax revenue for its host city as well as millions more in gaming tax revenue for both Bristol and neighboring localities.
Sportsbook under Consideration
Revealing more details about their plans in Bristol, Hard Rock Senior Vice President of Business and Casino Development Sean Caffery, said that they also plan to add interactive sports experience for golf and racing at some point in future.
And after the approval of a sports betting regulatory framework earlier this week, Mr. Caffery said that they are mulling the possibility to apply for a wagering license and offer athletic gambling at their Bristol casino.
The Virginia Lottery Board approved sports betting rules earlier this week, paving the way for the start of the licensing process in October. The regulator will be accepting license applications from interested operators between October 15-31.
Hard Rock’s Bristol project is spearheaded by city business leaders, including The United Co. CEO Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy, President of Par Ventures and owner of the former Bristol Mall.
City leaders selected Hard Rock as their preferred casino partner in May and the Virginia Lottery Board pre-certified the company’s proposal in July, two necessary steps before the project appears on the November 3 ballot.
Bristol voters will be asked to vote yes or no to the following question:
Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Bristol, Virginia at 500 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Virginia 24201 (former Bristol Mall) as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?
Thanks to Virginia’s recently passed “no excuse absentee voting” law, residents of Bristol will be able to start voting on the casino proposal from today, September 18. November 3 is the last date they will be able to cast their vote on the matter.
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