1,914 Guitars Smashed as Huey Lewis and The News Inaugurates New State-of-the-Art Winner’s Way Parking Garage
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (December 15, 2010) – The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, tonight, set a new Guinness World Record for the “World’s Largest Guitar Smash” - effectively smashing 1,914 guitars in celebration of the grand opening of Winner’s Way Parking Garage. This unprecedented and spectacular ceremonial guitar smash of non-musician-quality acoustic guitars was officially certified by a representative from Guinness World Records, which counted each participant.
The opening of Winner’s Way Garage adds 2,400 parking spaces to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino bringing the grand total of spaces available to more than 12,000. Designed by Klai Juba Architects of Las Vegas, the Winner’s Way Parking Garage offers guests another hassle-free, covered option to access the resort’s award-winning casino and world-class amenities. It features 15 elevators, six escalators, a 351-foot-tall pedestrian bridge to Seminole Paradise, a 164-foot-tall pedestrian bridge to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, and a car count system – all in a brightly lit environment.
The grand opening event kicked off with an indoor V.I.P. cocktail reception and then moved outdoors to the Hooters Lot for the actual guitar smash. Prior to the smash, a Seminole Tribal Blessing was performed. Phil Madow, president of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, welcomed Merrie Myers of Broward County Public Schools who thanked the Seminole Hard Rock management for their donation of guitars worth $50,000 to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County public and private music education programs. Similarly, a resident of the Ann Storck Center of Plantation gave a moving speech thanking the facility for the donation of the smashed guitar pieces. The pieces will be used by adults with disabilities to create original sculptures and decorative home accents that will be available for purchase as “Smashed GuitART” with all proceeds helping to support the fine art program that enables Ann Storck Center residents to continue to discover abilities and build independence.
At 7:35 p.m., Grammy-winners Huey Lewis and The News performed a song a cappella before Seminole Tribal Council leaders directed the official countdown that ended in a visually thrilling and musically synchronized fireworks display.
Included in the crowd as part of this momentous occasion were members from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Gaming executives, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino staff, Kraft Construction, Klai Juba Architects, Cleo Design, the Seminole Police Department, local celebrities including TV, radio and sports personalities, casino players, various charity supporters and more.
The $50 million construction project employed more than 300 workers and made a significant contribution to the South Florida economy. Construction of the nine-stories-tall (112 feet), approximately one million-square-foot parking garage began in April. This past August, representatives of the hotel, Kraft Construction, Coreslab, the Seminole Tribal Council and the Tribal Building Department celebrated the topping off of the garage by personally signing a 17,000-pound concrete slab roof before it was hoisted into place, complete with an evergreen tree to symbolize growth and good luck.
In addition to Winner’s Way Parking Garage, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers guests valet or self-parking in the adjacent Seminole Way and Lucky Street Garages as well as several surface parking lots, all totaling more than 12,000 parking spaces. The parking garages offer comprehensive security protection, including state-of-the-art security cameras, guards who patrol on bicycles and Seminole Police officers in patrol cars.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino invites you to PLAYHARD! Play, stay, dine, and shop at South Florida’s ultimate entertainment destination. Eighty-nine tables offer Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Play one of the more than 2,500 Vegas-style slots including the Native-American Casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player’s Club members may enjoy an exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and VIP Chef’s Table show kitchen. Convene in The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise for Texas Hold ‘em, limit Texas Hold ’em, Seven Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Cafe -Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 130 globally recognized rock ‘n roll themed restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA, Four Diamond rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 18 restaurants and lounges, 40,000-square-feet of meeting room space, a European-style spa, auto salon, 25 boutique shops, 12 nightclubs, Paradise Live, and Hard Rock Live, a 5,500- seat concert arena. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way.
For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010.
Visit us online at:
www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com
www.facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood
Contacts:
Ana Lanzas, Seminole Hard Rock
(954) 327-7504
ana.lanzas@seminolehardrock.com
Gary Bitner, Bitner Goodman
(954) 730-7730, ext. 120
gary@bitnergoodman.com
Fran Folic, Bitner Goodman
(954) 730-7730, ext. 117
fran@bitnergoodman.com
