Community Spotlight:
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol
The Casino Bristol project involving Hard Rock International will be located at the site of the former Bristol Mall. After the Virginia General Assembly authorized local voters to decide the fate of the project, the issue was placed on the November, 2020 ballot and overwhelmingly approved by 70% of the City of Bristol, Virginia electorate. Officials forecast the project will bring 2,000 jobs to the community and between $15 and $20 million in annual tax revenue for the City, as well as millions more in gaming tax revenues to be shared by the City and several other Southwest Virginia localities. The $400 million project is anticipated to be completed by early 2023.