Published on: October 16, 2024, 10:15h.
Last updated on: October 16, 2024, 10:17h.
Boyd Gaming, in collaboration with Virginia’s Pamunkey Indian Tribe, will commence construction on the Norfolk casino resort project at the end of October.
After the Norfolk City Council approved the over $500 million project, construction of the entertainment complex will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The event will be attended by key figures such as Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray, and Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander.
The future Norfolk resort will feature a 200-room hotel and a casino floor with 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. Additionally, the plan includes eight restaurants and bars, 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a full-service spa, a fitness center, and a 1,300-space parking garage.
The development will occupy approximately six acres of land acquired from the city for $10 million.
Residents of Norfolk approved the casino project in November 2020, near the Elizabeth River by the Harbor Park Minor League Baseball stadium, with strong 65% support in the local referendum.
Temporary Casino
Boyd Gaming and Pamunkey Indian Tribe will initially establish a temporary casino with several hundred slots and a few table games.
According to Virginia’s 2020 commercial gaming bill, the developers must commence gaming operations by November 2025, following the adequate support received in local referendums within five years of approval.
Plans entail the temporary casino to be constructed starting February 2025 and open by mid-October. Construction of the permanent resort will commence in mid-January 2025 and be completed by 2027.
The long-pending Norfolk casino project gains momentum with Boyd’s involvement. In September, Boyd acquired billionaire Jon Yarbrough’s stake in the project, becoming Pamunkey’s development partner.
Before the state legislature passed the 2020 gaming bill, Yarbrough had partnered with Pamunkeys for a tribal casino in King William County, roughly 60 miles north of Norfolk on tribal land.
Norfolk chose to collaborate with the tribe to prevent competition from the tribal casino. Voters approved the casino initiative in November 2020, designating the Pamunkeys and Yarbrough’s joint venture, Golden Eagle Consulting II, LLC, as the city’s preferred developer.
However, challenges hindered the progress of their casino project, called HeadWaters Resort & Casino. Yarbrough eventually sold his stake to Boyd, leading to a change in direction for the project.
Name Possibilities
With Boyd’s involvement, the project’s original name, HeadWaters, was discarded. Boyd is expected to reveal the new name for the upcoming property soon.
Unlike its competitor Penn Entertainment, known for the Hollywood casino brand, Boyd does not have a flagship brand for its regional properties. It is anticipated that the new property’s name will reflect the Hampton Roads region and acknowledge Norfolk’s history and naval significance.