After two accidents in one month at the site of a future Hard Rock hotel in New Orleans, the company's leader is clarifying its role in the construction.
"We were not the owner or the developer of the site itself," Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, told Cheddar Monday. "It was one of our licensees. But certainly we were excited about creating a new Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans."
Three workers were killed when parts of the upper floors collapsed October 12. On Sunday, the attempted demolition of two cranes on site left one dangling over a city street.
"Our prayers are with the families of the victims and also all the businesses surrounding the site itself, because the ripple effect here has been much more than most people realize," Allen said.
He added Hard Rock has been in the New Orleans market for decades, with its restaurant on famed Bourbon Street, and the company will work with the city and developers to "navigate through this rather challenging time."
Meanwhile, the brand is preparing to open the world's first guitar-shaped hotel in Florida Thursday: the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, a $1.5 billion project.
Part of the new resort is the $125 million Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, totaling 225,000 square feet for major performances. Maroon 5 will perform on the new stage Friday.
Other features of the flagship casino resort include entertainment, extensive gaming, a spa, fitness center, and more.
Hayley Berg, Lead Economist at Hopper breaks down her best tips for navigating holiday travel and how to score the hottest deals on Dec. 3 - Travel Deal Tuesday
MarketWatch's Hannah Erin Lang joins Cheddar to discuss how economists are viewing Trump's immigration policy and how it will affect the job market in America.
Zack Malet, Senior Director of Business Development & Innovation, joins Cheddar to discuss ESPN experiences and how they are changing the sports travel game.
Smashburger CEO Denise Nelsen discusses how her time building the Starbucks brand gave her the tools to lead a Smashburger brand refresh, value wars, and more.
Charles Gillespie, Founder and CEO of Gambling.com Group comments on the billions of dollars in wagers placed on the outcome of the 2024 election and more.
Danny Trejo joined Cheddar to discuss his upcoming show "Mysteries Unearthed" coming to the History Channel and his most recent entrepreneurial ventures.
His Royal Highness Prince Emanuele Filiberto Di Savoia, Prince of Venice, joined Cheddar to discuss his new game that lets everyday folks feel like a royal.
GJ Hart, CEO of Red Robin, discusses the company's place in the "value wars," what's next for the restaurant and his thoughts on Shake Shack in the sky. Watch!
