Of course, Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy were the masterminds behind the project, and Hard Rock COO Jon Lucas credited them for helping build the local support that ultimately led to Hard Rock building in Bristol. Elected officials in Bristol Virginia were thanked for their support, as were the voters who overwhelmingly approved the casino in a referendum vote.

Everyone from lobbyists to legislators received a round of applause, as did Jason Eige and Martin Kent of the United Company for the three years they spent in Richmond drumming up support for the idea.

This is a day we’ll remember forever.”įriday morning’s ribbon cutting ceremony detailed the long and winding road that led to the opening of the first casino in the state in Bristol. “This is the largest economic development project in the history of Bristol, Virginia,” Farnum said prior to the ribbon cutting the served as a ceremonial opening for the 30,000-square-foot casino that now occupies a portion of the former Bristol Mall building. The best is yet to come.”įor Bristol Virginia Mayor Anthony Farnum, however, July 8 is a day that will hold a permanent place in his heart. The Hard Rock executives who were on hand for the grand opening of the Bristol Casino on Friday tempered their talk about Virginia’s first casino by saying, “It’s only temporary. F rom left, Clyde Stacy of Par Ventures, Jim McGlothlin of The United Company and Marcellus Osceola, Jon Lucas and Angie Evangelista of Hard Rock cut the ribbon to open the Bristol Casino.

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