Hard Rock Bristol CEO Allie Evangelista talks three-year milestone

BRISTOL, Va. — Three years ago, the Bristol Casino opened its temporary facility in the former Bristol Mall.Since then, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol President Allie Evangelista said more than 4.5 million people have visited the property — from locals to visitors from across the globe.She said this week her team of more than 1,400 employees will celebrate with a two-day picnic at Steele Creek Park; July 8 marks the official anniversary for the opening."We started this the first year, celebrating our first anniversary and second anniversary, and here we are, three years later, celebrating all that we accomplished together," Evangelista said.She explained there is a core group of both employees and patrons who have supported the facility since it opened in 2022. Evangelista said the temporary facility was a "gift" that prepared the staff for the success and development of Hard Rock to come."It's so much fun to see and speak with people that have been supporting us from day one," she said. "They always comment how they've been there since we were a temporary facility, and how they love everything we have to offer."The temporary facility started with 870 slot machines, 21 table games and a sportsbook, as well as non-smoking and high-limit gaming areas.Continued growthOne of the main differences Evangelista has seen since the grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in Nov. 2024 is the success of live music and entertainment. She said an event at Hard Rock Live brings around 1,800 to 2,000 people each time."Since we opened in November for the permanent facility, we have had over 20,000 people visit our property just for concerts," she said. "Which is amazing, because if you stop to think, this might be a regular guest that comes more often. But there are people that come for the first time because they're watching a concert with us, and we didn't have that to offer before."Reaching nearly eight months since the permanent facility opened, Evangelista said she is grateful for the casino's success and commitment to the Hard Rock brand. She said the Bristol property has ranked high in both guest satisfaction and retail store success for this year.She said Hard Rock Bristol has distributed more than $1.7 million in donations to area nonprofits, which is at the core of the company's mission.Gaming revenues continue to grow for the property, with a total of $528,526,895.70 in adjusted gross revenue from July 2022 to May 2025 — based on data reported monthly by the Virginia Lottery.Evangelista said the casino is approaching $100 million in taxes paid to the state of Virginia from the gaming portion of the business.What's next?Evangelista said it is a little early to commit to projects, but as operators she said they are always looking at ways to improve the casino experience and get better."It's really exciting to see the growth that we are, because we're always looking for something different," Evangelista said. "Whether it may be a new slot machine or a new table game or team members becoming more proficient in their jobs so they're able to give better service."The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is continuing to monitor the need for more banquet and convention space, according to Evangelista."We have had a very high demand of groups that want to host events here at Hard Rock Bristol, and we've been able to accommodate several of them," she said. "We want to continue to grow our banquet business, so hopefully there'll be some opportunity to invest and grow our convention space for the property."By the numbers:4.5 million people visit the property in the past three years1,800 to 2,000 people attending each event at Hard Rock Live20,000 people have visited the property just for concerts$1.7 million in donations to area nonprofits over the past three yearsNearing $100 million in taxes to the state of Virginia for the gaming portion of businessTimeline for Bristol CasinoNov. 2020 — Majority of Bristol, Virginia, residents vote in favor of a referendum to bring the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to the areaOct. 2021 — Casino official confirms project is still coming, despite no signs of bulldozers or cranes on siteNov. 2021 — Demolition plan submitted to the city of Bristol for the projectJuly 2022 — Temporary casino opensDec. 2022 — Officials celebrate groundbreaking for permanent casinoJuly 2023 — Temporary facility celebrates one-year anniversary of operationsSept. 2023 — The hotel's skyline becomes visible during constructionJune 2024 — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol announces delay of permanent facility openingJuly 2024 — The Marketplace, a food hall within the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, opens to the public; two-year anniversary of temporary casino openingNov. 2024 — The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol celebrates the opening of its permanent facility with ceremonial guitar-smashing and moreMay 2025 — Bristol Casino continues to exceed its own revenue records, reaching over $23 million for MayJuly 2025 — Three-year anniversary of temporary casino opening