The Hard Rock Casino is preparing to open in New Jersey, but its Las Vegas establishment will soon cease to exist. The off-Strip Las Vegas casino was officially purchased by billionaire Richard Branson, who plans to revamp the establishment and relaunch it as Virgin Casino.
Branson danced in the pool to celebrate sale
Instead of hosting a formal press conference, Branson livened up the festivities with his trademark sense of fun. He celebrated the change in ownership with a pool party, complete with a bar and dancers.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal recorded some footage of the event, which included Branson dancing enthusiastically.
In case you missed it, Richard Branson, a British billionaire, declared on Friday that he has bought the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.
This information is sourced from a tweet by Las Vegas RJ (@reviewjournal) dated April 2, 2018.
Branson discussed the acquisition, however, he did not mention the sale price. The project is set to cost him more than the purchasing price of the property. He revealed plans to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into enhancing the casino.
Interestingly, while Branson is heavily investing in the renovation of Hard Rock, the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City has also spent a similar amount to refurbish the former Trump Taj Mahal in time for its Memorial Day weekend opening.
Say goodbye to the big guitar
Clearly, since it no longer has any connection to Hard Rock, the upcoming Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will be removing the large guitar situated outside the property. Branson believes the ideal replacement would be a massive rendition of the signature V from the Virgin brands.
This property is the biggest hotel in the Virgin portfolio. The project also has the following investors:
- CEO of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Richard “Boz” Bosworth
- Juniper Capital Partners
- Fengate Capital Management
“In a statement, Branson expressed his affection for Las Vegas, stating it has always held a unique place in his heart. He stated that Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America have had a long-standing tradition of flying to Las Vegas and he has always believed that Virgin Hotels could also prosper there. He eagerly anticipates turning the city Virgin red,” Branson said.
The new property will feature various elements distinct to the Virgin brand. For instance, the common space, which functions as a workspace and social area during daytime, transforms into a bar and club atmosphere during nighttime hours.
First land-based casino connections for Virgin
Branson’s Virgin is embarking on its maiden voyage into the realm of Las Vegas land-based casinos. However, Virgin is no novice in the casino industry, already owning an online casino site under their brand in New Jersey. Considering their frequent use of trip promotions on their online platform, it would not be unexpected to see players winning their way from Atlantic City to Las Vegas.
Image sourced from Chris Parypa Photography / Shutterstock.com.
