Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa celebrates USD 700 M expansion

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa officially unveiled its $700 million expansion on Thursday following the brand's signature Guitar Smash and a high wire walk by the "King of the High Wire," Nik Wallenda. The Guitar Smash and hotel towers high wire walk kicked off a weekend-long celebration.

"Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is already one of the largest and most profitable casinos in the United States," said Jim Allen, Hard Rock International Chairman and CEO of Seminole Gaming. "The expansion will increase entertainment and dining options, and help us attract guests from throughout the country and around the world."

The festivities commenced with a hi-tech neon and LED performance by Light Balance, containing elements of acrobatic and dance choreography. The group earned the Golden Buzzer Award during their audition for Season 12 of America's Got Talent and finished third overall in the competition. Followed by the brand's signature Guitar Smash, seventh-generation member of the Great Wallendas, Nik Wallenda, along with his 66-year-old mother, Delilah, thrilled guests with a high wire walk between the property's two hotel towers, overlooking the newly expanded pool deck, 175 feet below.

"I'm honored to be a part of such an iconic hotel and casino transformation here in Florida," said Nik Wallenda. "This is my first time executing a high wire walk in Tampa and it is an absolute honor to experience this monumental moment with my mother during her final walk."

The celebration continued as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Big Boi took the stage in the evening. Award-winning country artist Keith Urban —who walked a red carpet into Thursday’s celebration with his wife, actress Nicole Kidman— will perform Friday in the property's new 1,500-seat Hard Rock Event Center. A private blackjack tournament and VIP pool party hosted by celebrity DJ Brody Jenner will round out the momentous weekend. 

The extensive renovation includes a new, 14-story hotel tower, offering 562 additional hotel rooms and suites; three ultra-lavish pools; and a 26,000-square-foot Rock Spa & Salon equipped with 13 treatment rooms, including a Rhythm & Motion room, Hammam Ritual room, two VIP suites, a hair and nail salon, barbershop and co-ed aqua lounge. 

The completed 223,900-square-foot casino includes an additional 1,000 slots and 41 table games throughout its new gaming spaces, bringing the completed gaming experience to nearly 5,000 slots, 179 tables and a state-of-the-art poker room with 46 poker tables. For the ultimate VIP experience, a high floor of the new hotel tower will feature a private gaming parlor for VIP guests, with an exclusive check-in and private elevators to rock star suites.

On top of being home to Elvis Presley's iconic 24-karat gold leaf plated 1928 Kimball Piano Company Grand Piano, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa now houses 14 food and beverage offerings, featuring innovative menus and highlighting world-class cuisine. Additions include Constant Grind, a casual sit down or grab and go hot spot for coffee, gelato, pastries, and more, the Pool Bar & Grill, a full service restaurant presenting views from the center of the hotel's three pools and Cipresso, an Italian restaurant offering refined service, crafted cocktails, wine pairings and an innovative menu.

Today the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is the flagship of Hard Rock International, generating $1 billion a year in revenue for a corporation with total revenues of nearly $6 billion annually, Allen said, as reported by Tampa Bay Times.

Hard Rock has more than 45,000 employees and 254 properties, many of them cafes and stores, along with what will soon be a dozen casinos, in 75 countries. From a profitability standpoint, the Tampa casino is the most successful casino in North America, Allen said, and ranks fourth or fifth in the world. Alone among casino companies, Allen said, Hard Rock’s debt is rated investment-grade by the three leading credit rating agencies.

The Tampa expansion took two and a half years to complete and created 2,000 construction jobs. Along the way, the Tampa casino and hotel added 2,000 permanent jobs, bringing its total payroll up to about 4,800 positions.

“The design criteria from the start was that we could pick this building up and put it in the middle of the Las Vegas strip or Atlantic City or Macao, and it would be as nice as anything that’s currently out there,” Allen said. “We certainly think we have achieved that particular goal.”