In Virginia, members of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce recently got a sneak preview of the proposed Bristol Hard Rock casino resort, which would be developed at the vacant Bristol Mall. Two new architectural renderings illustrated the property’s gaming floor, restaurants, retail space, live performance venues and hotel with pools and a spa. A voter referendum on casino gambling will be held in November.
Hard Rock forecasts indicate the new casino would have an economic impact in excess of $1 billion, increasing to $4.5 billion during the first five years of operation. Annual local tax revenue would be more than $26 million and would go toward public school construction projects. The property would create 2,050 new jobs with an average annual income of $46,500, plus an additional 1,485 indirect jobs. An estimated 4 million visitors would be expected annually, mainly from out-of-state, analysts said.
Hard Rock International was the only casino operator to apply for the Bristol gaming license; the deadline was May 8. Bristol is one of five locations the Virginia legislature approved last year to develop a casino; the others are Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Richmond.
Bristol city officials said they will officially announce their choice of a casino developer—assumed to be Hard Rock International—on May 26.
