The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is embarking on a major expansion that will bring its casino floor to 200,000 square feet, adding 5,000 slot machines and nearly 200 table games to what already is one of the largest casino floors in the U.S.
The $700 million casino expansion, slated for completion in mid-2019, is part of a record $2.4 billion investment by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in its two flagship Hard Rock properties, in Tampa and Hollywood, which is in the midst of its own expansion project.
The Tampa expansion also will include a new 15-story hotel tower with an additional 564 hotel rooms and suites. In total, the expanded Seminole Hard Rock Hotel will offer approximately 800 guestrooms, including 79 new hotel suites for a new total of 88 suites. The top floor of the new hotel tower will feature a private gaming parlor for VIP guests, with exclusive check-in and private elevators to rock star-themed suites.
There will be three lavish new outdoor swimming pools adjacent to the second level of the new hotel tower that will feature a trendy 120-seat Pool Grille restaurant and bar. A new 25,000-square-foot Rock Spa & Salon will also open on the second level of the hotel tower and will offer pool-side services.
Culinary additions will include a new 200-seat Italian restaurant slated to open next fall, making the restaurant the third fine dining restaurant the property will offer. Additional renovations and updates are planned for the existing Hard Rock Cafe, Fresh Harvest Buffet, Plum VIP Lounge and Food Court. Rise Kitchen & Bakery will be redesigned and relocated as part of the casino expansion project.
Other elements include the 30,000-square-foot Seminole Hard Rock Event Center on the second level of the casino complex, including a 17,000-square-foot grand ballroom for concerts, conventions, trade shows, private events and large-scale poker tournaments.
Architects for the expansion are Klai Juba Wald Architects of Las Vegas, Nev. Interior designs are by Wimberly Interiors, Coral Gables, Fla., Laurence Lee Associates, Los Angeles, Calif., and Klai Juba Wald Interiors, Las Vegas, Nev. The construction team is led by Suffolk Yates.
The expansion will create 2,000 construction jobs and another 1,000 permanent full-time and part-time jobs. According to a report in Florida Trend, analysis shows the expansion will create another 1,022 indirect permanent jobs and 2,268 indirect construction jobs.
“Major expansion of the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is further evidence of the Seminole Tribe’s commitment to the people of Florida that it will continue to increase the economic impact of its Seminole Gaming facilities,” said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, according to Florida Trend.
“Our team members are the backbone of our operation, and we value their attention to detail and focus on guest care,” added Joe Lupo, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “In addition to enhancing our guest experience and offering a premiere resort entertainment destination, this expansion will offer more growth opportunities for our team members.”
