Hard Rock International has confirmed that it’s poised to enact its property expansion into Las Vegas during 2025, with Athens aspirations confirmed as following one year later.
The casino and entertainment operator signalled its Las Vegas aspirations in December 2021, after MGM Resorts International, in connection with real estate investment trust Vici Properties, agreed to sell the operations of The Mirage Hotel & Casino to the group for $1.075bn.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida owned brand said at the time of the purchase that it would build a guitar-shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
An expectation of the purchase closing during the second half of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, was also signalled.
Prior to 2020, HRI had no previous involvement with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino brand in the Nevadan city.
However, the group purchased the licensing and naming rights for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in May 2020, and vowed to utilise it when the right opportunity presented itself.
Jim Allen, Chair of HRI, said in December when the acquisition was first disclosed: “We are honoured to welcome The Mirage’s 3,500 team members to the Hard Rock family.
“When complete, Hard Rock Las Vegas will be a fully integrated resort welcoming meetings, groups, tourists and casino guests from around the world to its nearly 80 acre centre-Strip location.”
Last month, Hard Rock officially took over the development of an integrated resort and casino development on Greece’s Athens Riviera, after Connecticut-based Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment withdrew its plans in November 2021.
The latter won the right to operate a casino resort at Greece’s €8bn The Ellinikon in 2019, beating off competition from Hard Rock, which is being developed on the site of the airport of the same name that has sat empty for over 20 years after being replaced by a new central entity.
