In addition to new destination enhancements, Atlantic City gears up for a packed calendar of conventions, sporting events and festivals
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – July 1, 2025 – Visit Atlantic City is entering the height of summer with new attractions, expanded entertainment offerings and a busy calendar of events drawing visitors from across the region. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City kicks off the season with its 7th anniversary celebration, headlined by more than $7 million in special events, concerts and fireworks, while Tropicana Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa unveil exciting property updates, dining experiences and new amenities.
Along the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk, new openings like Hammer & Nails Grooming for Guys further enhance the destination’s diverse offerings, while family-friendly attractions such as the new Crazy Crab rollercoaster debuting at Steel Pier and Ocean’s 18 Mini Golf & Bar add to Atlantic City’s appeal for leisure travelers.
“This summer marks an incredible period of growth and momentum for Atlantic City,” said Gary Musich, President and CEO of Visit Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Sports Commission. “With milestone anniversaries, more than $100 million in resort investments, and key partnerships and collaborations, we’re seeing clear signs of Atlantic City’s continued growth. Our casino resorts and hotels are preparing to welcome larger crowds this season, as new experiences and continued investment drive visitation across Atlantic City and its region.”
Visit Atlantic City had a strong second quarter, hosting more than 73 major events, conventions and conferences that generated over 67,131 room nights and attracted upwards of 205,291 attendees, contributing to a total economic impact of $99,069,381. With this momentum, the destination is now looking ahead to a vibrant late summer and early fall filled with marquee events including the All Bamileke Convention, Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) World Tournament Championships, plus a stacked lineup of concerts and festivals.
“The casino industry has invested more than $1 billion since 2020 in revitalizing our properties and Atlantic City,” said Mark Giannantonio, President, Casino Association of New Jersey. “There is so much for visitors to experience this summer: fireworks celebrating the Fourth of July, the Visit Atlantic City Soar & Shore Festival, replenished beaches, top-notch dining options, world-class entertainment and the best gaming amenities the East Coast has to offer. We are excited for another incredible summer at our beachfront resort destination.”
WHAT'S NEW IN ATLANTIC CITY
Entertainment Highlights:
Atlantic City’s summer entertainment calendar is packed with headline acts across major venues. Upcoming shows include Counting Crows with The Gaslight Anthem on July 5, Sam Hunt on July 25, and Train on Aug. 15, all at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena. Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall will welcome Lil Wayne on Aug. 2 and The Who’s The Song Is Over North American farewell tour on Aug. 23. Additional highlights include comedian Gabriel Iglesias on Aug. 2 at Borgata Event Center, Sebastian Maniscalco with multiple performances at Ocean Casino Resort’s Ovation Hall from Sept. 21 through 28, and The Fray on Sept. 27 at Caesars Atlantic City.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Celebrates 7th Anniversary
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is celebrating its seventh anniversary this summer with more than $7 million in special events, promotions and entertainment. The property is delivering an action-packed season with more than 50 headliners on the calendar, including Chicago, Rick Springfield, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and the Steve Miller Band. The newly expanded Hard Rock Beach welcomes guests to a public seaside retreat with cabanas, lounge chairs, umbrellas, beach volleyball and food and beverage service. The reimagined nightclub, The Balcony, has reopened for the summer with live performances, aerialists and curated cocktails every Friday and Saturday. Guests can also return to The Terrace, the resort’s popular al fresco dining venue overlooking the Boardwalk, and enjoy live music daily on the property’s Vibe Stages and special dining experiences across the resort.
Ocean Casino Resort Rings in 7th Anniversary with Lucky Summer of Seven and Major Enhancements
Ocean Casino Resort is celebrating its seventh anniversary this summer with a “Lucky Summer of Sevens” lineup of more than $7 million in events and prizes. The celebration includes weekly fireworks and drone shows every Friday through Aug. 8, the return of the pop-up Birthday Bar at 1927 Lounge on July 10 and headline entertainment at Ovation Hall from Jeff Dunham, Daryl Hall, Ashanti and Sebastian Maniscalco. The anniversary coincides with more than $50 million in new property-wide investments for 2025, continuing the $270 million transformation Ocean Casino Resort began in 2018. The upgrades include 559 new Blu rooms and suites, completion of renovations across all 1,860 guest rooms, and an expanded Asian gaming space with 32 tables featuring Mini Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker. Ocean is also enhancing its culinary offerings with five new dining concepts, including Stephen Starr’s Chez Frites and Sunny’s, South Jersey favorite LaScala’s Fire, and two casual options, High Steaks and Blend. Later this summer, Ocean will debut Ocean’s 18 Mini Golf & Bar, an 8,000-square-foot, two-level entertainment venue featuring immersive hologram technology and family-friendly fun.
Tropicana Atlantic City Unveils All-New Solana Tower
Tropicana Atlantic City announced its all-new Solana Tower, a 604-room and suite transformation designed to offer guests a vibrant coastal escape. Inspired by Tropicana’s iconic Palm Walk and tropical décor, the new rooms feature bright, breezy interiors with soft wood tones, bold accents and curated artwork. The project strengthens Tropicana’s commitment to enhancing the guest experience and maintaining its status as one of Atlantic City’s top resort destinations. Construction begins after Labor Day, with reservations going live in fall 2025 and an anticipated debut in early 2026.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Unveils New Asian Gaming Space and Dining Concept
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has debuted a new 25,000-square-foot Asian gaming space, marking the most significant gaming refresh in the resort’s history. Now Atlantic City’s grandest dedicated Asian gaming experience, the venue features five high-limit salons, a first-to-market high-limit bar, multilingual hosts, and a refined atmosphere designed to serve both domestic and international guests. Complementing the gaming expansion is the opening of Noodles, a dining concept originally from Bellagio Las Vegas that offers house-made noodles, dim sum, barbecue, and other authentic Asian specialties. Rounding out the enhancements, the resort’s reimagined B Bar has reopened with a sleek new design, creating a central hub where guests can mix, sip and game in style.
Resorts Casino Hotel Debuts LandShark Bar & Grill Expansion and New MAYA Boardwalk Bar
Resorts Casino Hotel is elevating its beachfront offerings this summer with a major expansion of LandShark Bar & Grill and the debut of the new MAYA Boardwalk Bar. The award-winning LandShark Bar & Grill, Atlantic City’s only year-round beachfront venue is unveiling a series of exciting enhancements, beginning mid-June with the opening of a new beach bar and deck, offering signature bites and ocean views just steps from the sand. In early July, the expansion continues with a sprawling Margaritaville Tiki Bar and Deck, private beach cabanas with VIP bottle service, new beachside lounge chairs with full food and beverage delivery, and a cozy beachfront firepit lounge perfect for sunset cocktails. A live music beach stage and brand-new outdoor dance floor will round out the upgrades, inviting guests to enjoy DJs and performances under the stars all summer long. Opening June 27, MAYA is a Riviera-inspired cocktail lounge located directly on the Boardwalk, blending coastal cocktails, modern Mexican tapas and oceanfront energy with a chic, Tulum-style design. The new lounge delivers a vibrant social atmosphere for golden hour cocktails, elevated small plates and late-night summer escapes.
Hammer & Nails Grooming for Guys Debuts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk
Atlantic City’s first luxury men’s grooming shop, Hammer & Nails Grooming for Guys, is now open on the Boardwalk. The full-service shop offers haircuts, straight-razor shaves, manicures, pedicures, facials and more, all in an upscale, private setting designed for modern gentlemen. The location offers both membership options and à la carte services, providing a relaxing, elevated experience whether for a special occasion or a personal getaway.
Q3 CONVENTIONS, CONFERENCES & EVENTS IN ATLANTIC CITY
The Visit Atlantic City Soar & Shore Festival
The Visit Atlantic City Soar & Shore Festival returns to Atlantic City July 14-20, featuring a week of thrilling aerial performances, high-energy stunts, and activities across the city. The free airshow over the beaches will be held July 15–16 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Attendees will witness thrilling aerial feats, including a Soviet MiG-17 fighter, a WWII-era B-25 Mitchell Bomber, and a fly-by of four supersonic F-16 Fighting Falcons from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing.
The New Jersey Bar Exam will be held at the Atlantic Convention Center from July 28 - Aug. 1. The standardized exam is administered to law school graduates seeking admission to the New Jersey Bar and tests general principles of law, legal analysis and communication skills. The event expects 400 attendees, 60 room nights and $130,907 in economic impact.
The All Bamileke Convention will return to Atlantic City from Aug. 29-30, bringing together members of the Bamileke community from across North America. Hosted at the Atlantic City Convention Center, the annual event fosters cultural preservation, economic empowerment and community connection through workshops, performances and keynote discussions. Organized by ABC North America, the convention is expected to draw more than 5,000 attendees, generate 1,700 room nights, with an estimated economic impact of $3,537,333.
New Jersey Cannabis Convention
NECANN’s New Jersey Cannabis Convention will return to the Atlantic City Convention Center from Sept. 5-6. The two-day expo will bring together more than 200 exhibitors and over 5,000 professionals representing all corners of the cannabis supply chain. Attendees can expect in-depth educational programming, including more than 35 sessions focused on licensing, social equity, business development and policy shaping the Mid-Atlantic market. Now the third-largest cannabis convention in the United States, the 2025 event expects 3,000 attendees, generating an estimated $790,535 in economic impact.
Arett Sales will host its annual Open House at the Atlantic City Convention Center from Sept. 10-11. The two-day event brings together independent garden centers and retailers to explore exclusive show specials, attend buying appointments and connect directly with top vendors across the industry. Designed to help businesses plan for the year ahead, the Arett Sales Open House is known for its efficiency, convenience and strong vendor partnerships, all under one roof in Atlantic City. The event expects 2,200 attendees, 1,623 room nights, and $2,564,439 in economic impact.
Garden State Council - SHRM Conference & Expo
The Garden State SHRM Council Annual Conference will bring human resource professionals to the Atlantic City Convention Center from Sept. 27-30. The event will support the Society for Human Resource Management initiatives within the state and serve as an entry point for HR professionals new to New Jersey or those not currently affiliated with a local chapter. The event expects 650 attendees, 271 room nights and $454,593 in economic impact.
Q3 SPORTING EVENTS IN ATLANTIC CITY
The Atlantic City Jam Fest will return to the Atlantic City Convention Center July 9-11 and will feature over 34 courts under one roof. The tournament features some of the best competition, exposure and vacation experiences that can't be matched anywhere else. The event expects 11,000 attendees, 3,349 room nights and $4,647,207 in economic impact.
United States Tournament of Dance
The United States Tournament of Dance will take place July 11-20, hosted at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel. This nationally renowned event showcases elite acrobatics, tap, and commercial dance competitions, with dancers of all ages vying for medals, scholarships, and titles, alongside master classes, social events, and family activities. The event is expected to draw 1,000 attendees, generate 2,443 room nights and create $2,143,222 in economic impact.
Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City “Quest For The Ring” Championship Fishing Week
JJFISHWEEKFL, which annually takes place in March in South Florida, will be making its way up the east coast to Atlantic City, NJ for the upcoming Northeast summer tournament season to host the 5th Annual JJFISHWEEKAC, in partnership with the Atlantic City Sports Commission from July 13-19, hosted at the Frank S. Farley State Marina at Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina. The tournament will include a $1 Million+ Guaranteed Purse and a week full of the ultimate hospitality with approximately 90-100 teams. The event expects 1,500 attendees, 1,500 room nights, and $2,338,649 in economic impact.
Summer Finale Live will take over the Atlantic City Convention Center with two tournaments in one, featuring boys' games from July 17-20 and girls' games from July 18-21, both utilizing 42 courts. The boys’ tournament will include 350 teams, while the girls’ tournament will host 250 teams. Combined, the events are expected to generate 11,000 attendees, 4,862 room nights, and $6,159,673 in economic impact.
The Jersey Jumps Beach Vault returns to Atlantic City’s Arkansas Avenue Beach from July 26-27, for its 17th annual event. Athletes from across the region will take to the sand for this one-of-a-kind pole vault competition, which brings together high school, collegiate and elite competitors for an action-packed weekend on the beach. With the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop and the lively summer atmosphere of the Boardwalk, the event offers an unforgettable experience for both athletes and spectators. The event expects 750 attendees, 50 room nights, and $172,062 in economic impact.
Professional Fighters League World Tournament Championships
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) World Tournament Championships will take place on Friday, Aug. 1 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The event will showcase the highly anticipated Welterweight and Featherweight World Tournament Championship bouts, drawing top fighters and MMA fans from across the country. The event expects 5,000 attendees, 711 room nights, and $1,776,046 in economic impact.
The 15th Annual Atlantic City Triathlon returns to Atlantic City on Saturday, Aug. 9. As the most beginner-friendly triathlon course in New Jersey, participants will compete in a .25-mile swim, 11-mile bike and 5k run on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
The 28th US Open Pool Championship, one of the most prestigious events in nine-ball, returns to Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City from Aug. 18 - 23, 2025. Promoted by Matchroom, hundreds of the world’s top pool players will compete to win one of the sport’s most coveted titles and a record $500,000 prize fund. The event expects 1,500 attendees, 2,835 room nights and $2,207,470 in economic impact.
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About Visit Atlantic City
Visit Atlantic City is a 501(c)(6) organization formed and funded as a public-private partnership by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to create economic development through leisure tourism, conventions, sporting events, film production and group tourism.
Atlantic City is a premier travel destination on the East Coast with the first Boardwalk to open in the United States. Attracting visitors with its diverse array of tourism offerings, Atlantic City is home to nine casino resorts, an eclectic culinary scene, vibrant history, thrilling entertainment and family-friendly adventures, making it the ultimate destination where celebrations live on and inspire visitors to create memory making moments.
For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.visitatlanticcity.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the Atlantic City Sports Commission:
The Atlantic City Sports Commission was officially formed on January 13, 2015 as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the support of Visit Atlantic City and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to attract sporting events, conventions and competitions to Atlantic City.
For more information, visit www.atlanticcitysports.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
MMGY
Visit Atlantic City
Jessica Kasunich
jessicak@visitatlanticcity.com