ATHENS, Greece—Hard Rock International, GEK TERNA Group, and the Athens community broke ground on the luxury resort and Casino in the Athens Rivera. The groundbreaking event had a commemorative shovel celebration at the Hellinikon Airport. The ceremony to follow was conducted at the Hellinikon Experience Center and included the Hard Rock International executives, GEK TERNA Group executives, Greek government officials, political dignitaries, and local community leaders.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens will serve as an economic driver for entertainment and tourism in the city of Athens. Expected to open in 2027, the resort will combine a hotel, a gaming floor, a meeting and convention space, an entertainment venue, food and beverage, Rock Spa and Pool Complex, and a retail promenade.
The €1.5 billion construction project is a facility projected to generate 3,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs that will stimulate the local economy of Athens and have a positive impact on Greece’s economy.
“Today is a very special day as we celebrate this momentous occasion to bring our unique brand of world-class entertainment to Athens,” said Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International. “We are grateful to all the political leaders, our partners at Gek Terna, and the people of Athens for supporting us and this project.”
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens brings a casino comprised of 180 tables and 1,500 gaming machines and a tower that consists of 1,100 guestrooms and 15 dining options. Additionally, the project includes a 3,000-seat Hard Rock Live theatre with standing room for 4,000 guests and the Rock Spa and Body Rock Fitness.
Inspired by Athens’s legacy and culture, as well as the Mediterranean landscape, this destination expands upon Hard Rock’s presence in Europe. Hard Rock and GEK TERNA Group’s commitment to this project represents the vision with the Greek government and Lamda Development to transform the Hellinikon Airport into a redevelopment that will further enhance the city and Greece’s tourism industry.
