Caesars Virginia will now open Dec. 17 instead of Dec. 12, according to an announcement Friday that comes almost a month after the original grand opening date was announced.
The release did not include a reason for the delay, and a Caesars spokesperson did not respond Friday to an inquiry requesting more information.
However, the release did provide more details about the festivities around the grand opening, including that NBA champion Dennis Rodman will attend and will place the ceremonial first bet in Caesars Sportsbook.
“We know that there is tremendous excitement for our grand opening, and we appreciate everyone’s patience with this short delay,” Chris Albrecht, Caesars Virginia general manager, said in the release. “The team has been working around the clock to officially open the doors.”
The doors will officially open at noon, though festivities will begin at 10:15 a.m. with a parade of race cars and supercars supplied by Virginia International Raceway, Kaizen Autosport and Foreign Cars Italia.
The parade route will weave through Danville’s streets, starting at the corner of Main and Craghead Street and ending at the casino, the release says.
Rodman will also serve as the parade’s master of ceremonies.
Beginning at 11 a.m. at the resort’s main entrance, executives from both Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a partner on the project, as well as local officials, will offer remarks.
There will also be a firework and drone show at 8 p.m., “lighting the sky above the resort and historic ‘Three Sisters’ smokestacks,” formerly a part of Dan River Mills.
Until the grand opening, guests can continue to play at the Danville Casino, the temporary facility in the resort’s parking lot.