Post by Clipper on Nov 4, 2020 21:30:54 GMT -5
Bristol's economy is about to get major shot in the arm. There was a referendum on the Bristol Va. ballot to approve or disapprove a Hard Rock Casino and Hotel project. It was approved by the voters to the dismay of a few local church leaders. It was approved by 71% in favor and only 29% against.
Virginia state government voted a couple years ago to allow limited casino gambling in the state. Bristol Virginia was one of he four possible sites but it was mandated that it had to be put on the ballot as a referendum to be decided by the city's voters.
The casino is to be developed on the site of our former Bristol Mall that closed a couple of years ago when all of the anchor stores moved out to the new Pinnacle shopping development area next to I-81. Sears closed last and then all the small shops up and down the mall left a few at a time until the mall no longer could keep the lights on and maintain the facilities.
All the local business owners are excited because it will bring thousands of visitors to the area that will not only patronize the casino, but will also patronize the other area merchant's businesses. It is expected to be a real benefit to local business, bringing new faces and crowds. NASCAR and the speedway always brought a 100,000+ people to town a couple of weeks a year. They filled all the hotels for miles around of along with campgrounds. It filled local cash registers and brought millions of dollars to the local economy. Sadly NASCAR is losing some of it's popularity, and fewer people attend. the pandemic has stifled not only the racing, but also the country music festivals that take place every year downtown. It is going to put Bristol back on the map as a tourist destination.
Local citizens are encouraged by the employment opportunities that come with the project. Construction will take over a year, giving local tradesmen and construction contractors work and when the project is complete and opened, they plan to employ over 2000 employees. The tax revenue generated will be a significant boost to local budgets. Everyone will benefit from restaurant and lodging tax on both sides of the state line.
www.bing.com/search?q=images+of+the+bristol+hard+rock+casino&cvid=bd1f986ca5c9471db2fee7bf81fef48b&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531
Virginia state government voted a couple years ago to allow limited casino gambling in the state. Bristol Virginia was one of he four possible sites but it was mandated that it had to be put on the ballot as a referendum to be decided by the city's voters.
The casino is to be developed on the site of our former Bristol Mall that closed a couple of years ago when all of the anchor stores moved out to the new Pinnacle shopping development area next to I-81. Sears closed last and then all the small shops up and down the mall left a few at a time until the mall no longer could keep the lights on and maintain the facilities.
All the local business owners are excited because it will bring thousands of visitors to the area that will not only patronize the casino, but will also patronize the other area merchant's businesses. It is expected to be a real benefit to local business, bringing new faces and crowds. NASCAR and the speedway always brought a 100,000+ people to town a couple of weeks a year. They filled all the hotels for miles around of along with campgrounds. It filled local cash registers and brought millions of dollars to the local economy. Sadly NASCAR is losing some of it's popularity, and fewer people attend. the pandemic has stifled not only the racing, but also the country music festivals that take place every year downtown. It is going to put Bristol back on the map as a tourist destination.
Local citizens are encouraged by the employment opportunities that come with the project. Construction will take over a year, giving local tradesmen and construction contractors work and when the project is complete and opened, they plan to employ over 2000 employees. The tax revenue generated will be a significant boost to local budgets. Everyone will benefit from restaurant and lodging tax on both sides of the state line.
www.bing.com/search?q=images+of+the+bristol+hard+rock+casino&cvid=bd1f986ca5c9471db2fee7bf81fef48b&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531