Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City opened its doors Thursday with a guitar smash that would have made Pete Townshend proud. The much-anticipated resort was packed as thousands streamed into its resort’s casino, music venues, shops and restaurants on the resort’s official opening day.
“We promised you that we wouldn’t just paint it and put a guitar on the wall,” HRI Chairman and CEO Jim Allen said at an early morning press conference. “How do you think we did?” Hard Rock’s opening was just the first of the day in Atlantic City. The new Ocean Resort Casino was to have its grand unveiling hours later.