A coalition of eight local churches in Bristol, Virginia has mounted a campaign urging voters on November 3 to oppose the $400 million Hard Rock Hotel and Casino proposed for the vacant Bristol Mall. The group has put up bright yellow billboards with bold black letters stating, “All that glitters is not gold.” “When casinos go up, communities go down.” “What would Jesus do? He would definitely vote no on the casino referendum.”
The banner on their website, nobristolcasino.org, states, “No Bristol casino; a betting Bristol is not a better Bristol.”
Casino backers include local businessmen Jim McGlothlin, chief executive officer at the United Company and Clyde Stacy, chief executive officer at Par Ventures. Hard Rock International would be the management partner.
Scott Price, pastor at Fellowship Chapel, one of the opposition churches, said, “It’s pretty much a Goliath versus David battle in that the proponents certainly have multiple resources from which to draw, and they’re using those to get their message out. I can’t see anything good, long-term, coming from a casino. We’re just trying to remind people, from our perspective, the negatives we see, just as proponents of it are seeking to remind people of what they believe to be the positives.”
Price said he feels the casino would affect local people and families who “can’t afford” to gamble and lose. “No wealth is produced by a casino. It is redistributing of wealth from one man’s hand into another’s hand,” he stated.
Proponents of the casino resort responded to the church group’s efforts. “We respect individual opinions. Voters in Bristol need to make an informed decision on bringing the thousands of new jobs and millions in annual tax revenue to the city. We can’t afford to miss this significant job and tax revenue project because, without it, there is not a viable alternative on the table to give Bristol and the surrounding region the major economic boost our community needs.”
Project supporters noted predictions of millions of visitors and tax revenue for the city and region, as well as the creation of thousands of jobs. They pointed out, beyond the casino, the development would offer entertainment venues and a luxury hotel.
A 2019 study by the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission estimated a Bristol casino would draw 74 percent of its revenue from outside Virginia, primarily Tennessee and North Carolina. That study was based on a $200 million investment; developers would spend double that amount.
