Atlantic City’s new Hard Rock casino will operate under a management agreement within the Hard Rock organization between a company that owns the property and one that operates the casino.
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has approved the agreement.
According to the Press of Atlantic City, under the terms of the agreement, HR Atlantic City, part of Hard Rock International, will serve as the casino operator for the property. The property is owned by Boardwalk 1000, which includes Hard Rock International and investors Jack Morris and Joe Jingoli.
State criteria require that the casino manager own at least 10 percent of the property and that each party holds a casino license. Both HR AC and Boardwalk 1000 have applied for casino licenses, the press reported.
Hard Rock and investors are spending about $500 million to renovate the casino, which was the former Trump Taj Mahal. The company expects the project to generate more than 1,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs.
Hard Rock also announced it is launching a program for about 15 local youth to be trained for construction jobs at the site.
Hard Rock sponsored the program in partnership with local neighborhood group “Friends In Action” that helped identify promising candidates.
“This initiative doesn’t just prepare students for construction jobs in Atlantic City,” said Matt Harkness, president of the Hard Rock casino. “It prepares them for meaningful careers in the building trades.”
The students will learn construction math, and learn the basics of heating, ventilation and air conditioning; electrical work and job site safety, the Press reported.
In another Atlantic City note, a proposed skywalk connecting the former Chelsea hotel and Tropicana Atlantic City is expected to open in the spring.
City Council has approved an ordinance granting air rights for the connector. The project is expected to cost more than $5 million, according to the Press.
“It’s already under construction. We are really excited about this addition. It gives us 330 rooms that have a boutique hotel feel that gives you access to all of the variety that Tropicana has to offer,” Tony Rodio, president and CEO of Tropicana Entertainment Inc. told the paper.
