The Nevada Gaming Control Board received an update on the status of the Hard Rock Las Vegas construction project at its Jan. 15 meeting.

The board heard from Frank Cassella, senior vice president of Finance for Hard Rock Las Vegas. Cassella appeared before the board as part of an application for his licensure as a key executive, which the board unanimously recommended approval to the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Cassella earned an accounting degree from Penn State University. He told the board he previously worked at KPMG and became involved in the gaming industry working in auditing for PricewaterhouseCoopers. He went on to work for Wynn Resorts, where he served in a leadership role at its Macau resort and helped with the opening of Encore Boston Harbor resort and casino before joining Hard Rock. His work experience received praise from the board during the meeting.

“Extremely impressive background in the gaming industry,” Kirk Hendrick, chairman of the board said.
“Your work history is beyond exceptional,” said board member George Assad, a retired judge.

In response to board questions, Cassella provided an update on the construction of Hard Rock Las Vegas. The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Hard Rock International purchased The Mirage in 2022 for $1 billion. HRI closed The Mirage in July 2024 and immediately began construction.

“Construction is progressing very positively. Most of the work is still in the demotion phase,” Cassella told the board.

The property, which is in a prominent location on the Las Vegas Strip, will include a new Guitar Hotel, twice the size of the first one built in Hollywood.

“Some of the pilings have gone up for the new guitar tower, which is going to be over 700 feet tall, 650 suites,” Cassella said.

The property’s 3,000-room hotel is receiving a redesign and new pool. Hard Rock Las Vegas is slated to open in 2027. Convention and meeting bookings are being accepted for the fall of 2027 and beyond.

“Everything is on time and on schedule,” Cassella said.