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.
Fintech pioneer Tom Sosnoff discusses the evolution of retail investing, the rise of AI, and his new platform Lossdog aimed at the next generation of trading.
The FAA prepares to select cities for its eVTOL pilot program, marking a major step toward electric air taxis and the future of urban air mobility in the U.S.
Rising oil prices tied to the Iran conflict are driving up gas and airfare costs, creating new challenges for travelers heading into the spring break season.
The Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era tariffs, limiting presidential trade powers and raising questions about refunds, global trade, and business impact.
New research from GoDaddy and UCLA shows small businesses signal shifts in GDP, jobs, and digital growth earlier than traditional data or Wall Street trends.
