DANVILLE, Va.
Caesars Virginia announced Friday that its highly anticipated grand opening has been postponed to Dec. 17, five days later than originally planned.
The initial date of Dec. 12 was revealed nearly a month ago, but the reason for the adjustment remains unclear.
A spokesperson for Caesars did not respond to requests for further information.
Despite the delay, the casino has outlined a series of celebratory events to mark the occasion.
Among the highlights, NBA champion Dennis Rodman will be present to place the ceremonial first bet at the casino’s sportsbook.
“We know that there is tremendous excitement for our grand opening, and we appreciate everyone’s patience with this short delay,” said Chris Albrecht, general manager of Caesars Virginia. “The team has been working around the clock to officially open the doors.”
The grand opening festivities will commence at 10:15 a.m. with a parade featuring race cars and supercars provided by Virginia International Raceway, Kaizen Autosport, and Foreign Cars Italia.
The parade route will start at the corner of Main and Craghead Street and conclude at the casino. Rodman will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event.
At 11 a.m., a formal ceremony will take place at the resort’s main entrance. Executives from Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a partner in the project, will join local officials to deliver remarks.
The casino will officially open its doors to the public at noon.
To cap off the day, a fireworks and drone display will illuminate the sky above the resort and the historic “Three Sisters” smokestacks, remnants of the former Dan River Mills site, at 8 p.m.
In the interim, guests can continue enjoying the temporary Danville Casino, located in the resort’s parking lot, until the grand opening.
The Caesars Virginia project has drawn significant attention as a major development in Danville, promising to deliver entertainment and economic benefits to the region.