Hard Rock to open temporary Bristol casino on July 8

Hard Rock International announced Wednesday that its temporary Bristol casino in Virginia will open its doors on July 8.

"We are excited to open the casino and welcome guests,” said Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer of Hard Rock International, in a news release. “As Virginia’s first casino, Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock will be a wonderful addition to the Hard Rock global portfolio of dining, hotel and entertainment properties. I am pleased by the significant progress that Allie Evangelista and her team are making toward a July 8 grand opening celebration for Bristol.”

“I cannot wait to open the doors on July 8 for our temporary casino in Bristol,” said Evangelista, recently appointed president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. “We continue to hire new team members daily and are working hard to fill remaining positions with hiring events over the next couple of months, including two events next week."

“Visitors will be thrilled to enjoy fantastic gaming and dining opportunities at our new property. Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock will be a major draw to Bristol and the region as we move toward completion of our full-scale resort and casino,” she added.

The temporary facility will boast approximately 30,000 square feet of casino space, featuring approximately 900 gaming slots, 20 tables and a sportsbook for a variety of gaming options, according to the release. The casino will also have a store with Hard Rock merchandise and a display area showcasing the future Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol that is currently under construction, projected to open within mid-2023 and early 2024. 

Hard Rock’s temporary casino will create 600 jobs in Bristol. The space will include a main casino floor as well as non-smoking and high-limit gaming areas. Guests will also be able to enjoy a new restaurant, a grab-and-go food outlet, and a sports bar and lounge with entertainment along with an adjacent smoking sports lounge. 

In an exclusive video interview with Evangelista earlier this month, she told Yogonet that Hard Rock Bristol is going to open with the new Hard Rock loyalty program that is being launched all over the world in hotels, cafes and casinos, called Unity. She also anticipated the company is working with Hard Rock Digital to have mobile sports betting in Virginia "much sooner than actually opening the doors for our gaming facility."