BRISTOL, Va.—Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol celebrated its grand opening on November 14 with Hard Rock’s guitar smash ceremony. Hard Rock executives and partners, state and local officials, local community members, and business and civic leaders attended the ceremony. Following the celebration, the casino officially opened its doors to the public at noon.
Located at 500 Gate City Hwy. in Bristol, the 620,000-square-foot resort features approximately 1,500 slot machines, more than 50 table games, a sportsbook, more than 300 guest rooms, and seven dining options, including the signature Hard Rock Café. It also offers a Rock Shop, authentic music memorabilia, and designated non-smoking and high-limit gaming areas. In addition, the new 23,000-square-foot Hard Rock Live entertainment venue will be a premier destination for live entertainment in the region.
“This is such a monumental moment for the Bristol community and Hard Rock,” said Jon Lucas, COO of Hard Rock International. “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.”
Bristol Casino opened its temporary facility, “Bristol Casino – Future Home of Hard Rock,” in Virginia in July 2022, as the state’s first casino. From its inception in July to November 11, 2024, the casino welcomed more than three million guests, paid more than $68 million in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Virginia, donated more than $960,000 to local community nonprofit organizations, and paid more than $262 million in jackpots. The project also created approximately 900-1,000 construction-specific jobs and is expected to create more than 1,400 full-time and part-time jobs.
