'Hard Rock' heads to NM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - With $2 million in rock-and-roll memorabilia and more in renovations, the Isleta Casino and Resort just south of Albuquerque is set to become the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Albuquerque, the first Hard Rock property in New Mexico.

Steve Neely, the resort's marketing director, said the resort plans to spend millions of dollars to upgrade the property in time for the formal reopening under the Hard Rock banner in the second quarter of 2010. The resort had just opened a new hotel building in July 2008.

"This really is an opportunity to take the next step and move forward and go after some regional visitors, as opposed to just local visitors, and really help the entire region," Neely said.

Neely said the deal with Hard Rock Hotel Holdings should boost business and allow the facility to expand its workforce again. It laid off 200 workers, one-sixth of its workforce, in April.

Even with the name change, Neely said, the Pueblo of Isleta will continue to own and operate the facility.

After the planned renovations, the resort will sport several new restaurants, a cocktail lounge, a multi-purpose theater for concerts and sporting events and offer 30,000 square feet of convention space.

Officials said the casino and resort will continue to operate during the renovations.

The deal needs to be reviewed by the National Indian Gaming Commission.