Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa Expansion
TAMPA, Fla. – Oct. 7, 2019 – In true Hard Rock style, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa officially unveiled its highly-anticipated $700 million expansion today following the brand’s signature Guitar Smash and a high wire walk by the “King of the High Wire,” Nik Wallenda. The Guitar Smash and hotel towers high wire walk kicked off a weekend-long celebration.
“Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is already one of the largest and most profitable casinos in the United States,” said Jim Allen, Hard Rock International Chairman and CEO of Seminole Gaming. “The expansion will increase entertainment and dining options, and help us attract guests from throughout the country and around the world.”
Among the signature items of memorabilia at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's $720 million expansion in Tampa: this 24k-gold-plated piano owned by Elvis Presley, which went on display to. The gallery photos show the stunning work our project teams delivered at the $700 million expansion and renovation for Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. KHS&S performed multiple scopes on multiple venues for the project, which marks the largest expansion in the property’s history. Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa: New expansion is a hit - See 2,584 traveler reviews, 373 candid photos, and great deals for Tampa, FL, at Tripadvisor. 'Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is already one of the largest and most profitable casinos in the United States,' said Jim Allen, Hard Rock International Chairman and CEO of Seminole. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Tampa announced on Wednesday that they will have 5,000 slot machines and nearly 200 tables when the expansion is concluded in 2019. The casino is located.
The festivities commenced with a hi-tech neon and LED performance by Light Balance, containing elements of acrobatic and dance choreography. The group earned the Golden Buzzer Award during their audition for Season 12 of America’s Got Talent and finished third overall in the competition. Followed by the brand’s signature Guitar Smash, seventh-generation member of the Great Wallendas, Nik Wallenda, along with his 66-year-old mother, Delilah, thrilled guests with a high wire walk between the property’s two hotel towers, overlooking the newly expanded pool deck.
“I’m honored to be a part of such an iconic hotel and casino transformation here in Florida,” said Nik Wallenda. “This is my first time executing a high wire walk in Tampa and it is an absolute honor to experience this monumental moment with my mother during her final walk.”
With music at the core of the Hard Rock experience, the celebration continues as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Big Boi take the stage this evening. Award-winning country artist Keith Urban will perform on Friday, Oct. 4, in the property’s new 1,500-seat Hard Rock Event Center. A private blackjack tournament and VIP pool party hosted by celebrity DJ Brody Jenner will round out the momentous weekend.
The extensive renovation includes a new, 14-story hotel tower, offering 562 additional hotel rooms and suites; three ultra-lavish pools; and a 26,000-square-foot Rock Spa® & Salon equipped with 13 treatment rooms, including a Rhythm & Motion room, Hammam Ritual room, two VIP suites, a hair and nail salon, barbershop and co-ed aqua lounge.
The completed 223,900-square-foot casino includes an additional 1,000 slots and 41 table games throughout its new gaming spaces, bringing the completed gaming experience to nearly 5,000 slots, 179 tables and a state-of-the-art poker room with 46 poker tables. For the ultimate VIP experience, a high floor of the new hotel tower will feature a private gaming parlor for VIP guests, with an exclusive check-in and private elevators to rock star suites.
On top of being home to Elvis Presley’s iconic 24-karat gold leaf plated 1928 Kimball Piano Company Grand Piano, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa now houses 14 delectable food and beverage offerings, featuring innovative menus and highlighting fresh, world-class cuisine. Additions include Constant Grind, a casual sit down or grab and go hot spot for coffee, gelato, pastries, and more, the Pool Bar & Grill, an upbeat, full service restaurant presenting stellar views from the center of the hotel’s three pools and Cipresso, an elegant Italian restaurant offering refined service, crafted cocktails, wine pairings and an innovative menu. For more information or to book a stay, please visit www.seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Seminole Tribe details expansion in Tampa
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is investing $2.4 billion in its signature Florida casinos, with the latest announcement a $700 million expansion of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
At the same time, the tribe and two partners just completed a $300 million makeover of the former Trump Taj Majal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The ventures show the economic clout of the tribe and its Hard Rock International brand, which has venues in 75 countries, including 181 cafes, 25 hotels and 11 casinos. Hard Rock recently moved its headquarters from Orlando to a location near the Seminole tribal headquarters in Hollywood.
The 2007 acquisition of Hard Rock has made the Seminole Tribe’s operations standout among tribes in general, says Alan P. Meister, author of the annual Indian Gaming Industry Report. Its far-flung operations contrast with the relatively few tribes that have multiple gaming venues.
Meister says it’s unique, different and special for the tribe to be able to invest the massive amounts of capital necessary to continue growing the Hard Rock brand.
Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa Expansion Calendar
The investments affirm the savvy nature of the tribe’s business operations.
The Tampa expansion will reinforce Hard Rock Tampa’s position as one of America’s largest casinos, with 5,000 slot machines, almost 200 gaming tables and 200,000 square feet of entertainment and gaming.
The Tampa property had nearly $1 billion in gaming revenue for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2016, based on an analysis of state documents obtained by Nick Sortal, a gaming writer for TBBW sister magazine Tribal Business Journal and the Miami Herald.
The Tampa project will have a major impact on job creation: 2,000 construction jobs will be added during the two-year building project, and approximately 1,000 more part-time and full-time jobs will be created when it opens. The property already has 3,500 employees.
“Major expansion of the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is further evidence of the Seminole Tribe’s commitment to the people of Florida that it will continue to increase the economic impact of its Seminole Gaming facilities,” said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International.
One question is what sort of commitment the state will make with the tribe.
In April, Gov. Rick Scott announced the state had an agreement to share revenue from the tribe’s gaming operations through 2019. However, the state still needs to negotiate a new gaming compact with the tribe, which says exclusivity provisions in the previous compact have been violated. The question is what Florida’s Legislature will come up amid lobbying from other gaming interests and opponents.
The Tampa resort, which has an AAA Four Diamond rating, will get a new 15-story hotel tower with an additional 564 hotel rooms and suites. The top floor of the hotel tower will have a private gaming parlor for VIPs.
The hotel will add three lavish outdoor swimming pools with a 120-seat restaurant and bar. A new 25,000-square-foot spa and salon also will open on the second level of the hotel tower and will offer poolside services.
A 200-seat Italian restaurant will join the resort’s existing fine-dining restaurants, the Council Oak Steaks & Seafood and The Rez Grill.
The property also will upgrade its music and entertainment programming with a 30,000-square-foot Seminole Hard Rock Event Center, located on the second level of the casino complex. The center includes a 17,000-square-foot ballroom.
Six additional retail shops will join the existing two retail outlets, more than tripling the casino complex’s current shopping options.
Last October, the Seminole officials gave details of a $1.5 billion expansion at the Hollywood resort. It includes a 450-foot, guitar-shaped hotel that nearly triples room space, and a new 7,000-seat concert hall that officials hope will attract events such as awards shows.
The new $100 million hall will replace the previous 5,500-seat Hard Rock Live. The work is expected to be completed in summer 2019.
Sortal’s analysis indicates the Hard Rock Hollywood had $579 million in gaming revenue for the year ending June 30, 2016.
Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa Expansion Plans
The resort will have a 10-acre pool complex with villas surrounded by water and waterfalls. “Chickeecabanas” will dot the banks of the lagoon-style resort pool, which will also include beach club dining, canoes and paddleboats.
When completed, the hotel will have about 1,300 rooms, 3,500 slot machines, 200 table games and 60,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space.
The Taj Mahal was scheduled to reopen June 28 as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City.
The tribe and two business partners paid $50 million for a property that cost $1.1 billion when it opened in 1990.
The hotel, which is on 17 acres of oceanfront, has 1,972 rooms. The 119,657-square-foot casino has 2,144 new slot machines and 120 new table games. Amenities include 20 restaurants and bars. ♦