Harveys' share of the resort for $45 million. The deal included paying Harveys $24.2 million to end the managing agreement, and another $20.7 million to buy Harveys' stake in Hard Rock Hotel common stock. At the time, the resort was considered overwhelmingly successful. The sale was approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission in October 1997. The purchase increased Morton's ownership to 90 percent, while the remainder was held by investors such as film producer Jon Avnet and MTV chairman Tom Freston. That month, Morton had plans for an expansion that would include a new hotel tower, a six-story parking garage, a health spa, and an enlargement of the Hard Rock Beach Club. Morton also planned to add four new restaurants, as hotel guests would frequently get tired of the limited dining options and would often leave the premises to eat elsewhere. Morton said the casino, which had 800 slot machines, would perform better with new restaurants and additional rooms. Morton purchased the land owned by Las Vegas Discount Golf & Tennis for $8.5 million, and the sale increased the Hard Rock's total property size to more than 18 acres. The $85 million expansion was expected to begin in early 1998. The new 11-story hotel tower opened on May 10, 1999, with 330 rooms for a total of 670. The expansion cost a final total of $100 million, and included 35 suites, four new restaurants, the Baby's nightclub, of meeting space, and a bigger pool. Morton had county approval to add another 350-room tower, but he felt that such an addition would hamper the Hard Rock's boutique hotel nature: "I think if we grew this much larger ... it would definitely lose that intimacy and that ability to make the product personal." Morton said the Hard Rock's limited size was inspired by Las Vegas hotels of the 1950s, which were smaller than the newer megaresorts that had become common on the Las Vegas Strip. The expansion also included the Hard Rock Athletic Club and RockSpa. A two-day celebration was held to showcase the expansion, which brought increased revenue. The Hard Rock hosted its first boxing match in August 1999, between David Reid and Keith Mullings. That month, the Hard Rock laid off approximately 75 employees, reportedly because Morton was disappointed with the resort's financial results following the expansion. However, Morton said the resort was performing