In addition to the ribbon cutting, Allen also forecasted an ambitious slate of 300 live shows in the sprawling complex’s first year in operation.Īddressing a live audience at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square, Allen showcased visual renderings of the complex’s sleek, faux minaret-free look, and shared details of its $500 million redesign. “If that (Meadowlands casino) looks like it’s going to happen, we will certainly not forget about the half-billion dollars we have invested in this building,” he said.At a press conference Wednesday morning, Hard Rock chairman Jim Allen announced that June 28 will mark the opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, the much-anticipated replacement to the Trump Taj Mahal. While reiterating his company’s long-term plan of developing a Meadowlands casino, Allen said it is committed to making its Atlantic City property a success. The Trump Taj Mahal closed in October 2016, and Hard Rock bought it from former owner Carl Icahn in March 2017.

2014, reopened as the Ocean Resort Casino. The former Revel casino, which closed in Sept. Hard Rock was one of two shuttered Atlantic City casinos that sprang back to life Thursday. Sweeney reiterated that stance on Friday.

“I just don’t see it reasonably coming back and making sense,” he said. Sweeney said he can’t guarantee a future state Senate president won’t try to revive a public vote. “I don’t see any way where it comes back it was crushed.” “I don’t see it anytime soon, if ever,” he said at the time. New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney told the AP in December that casino expansion is on the back burner, at best.

New Jersey’s constitution restricts casino gambling to Atlantic City changing that would require a constitutional amendment. But key details about the project were never spelled out, including precisely where the casinos would go and the rate at which they would be taxed.Īnd at least for now, there remains little appetite among the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature to try again for another public vote on casino expansion. The Meadowlands plans to start taking sports bets on July 15.Īllen’s comments Thursday echoed those he made right after the statewide referendum was defeated by roughly 80 percent to 20 percent. Supreme Court cleared the way for all 50 states to legalize sports betting, which New Jersey quickly did.

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