Posted on: October 9, 2025, 11:31h.
Last updated on: October 9, 2025, 11:40h.
- Norfolk to Lease Land to Boyd Gaming
- Boyd will utilize the site for construction setup and parking
The City of Norfolk has agreed to lease approximately four acres of its land to Boyd Gaming, aiding in the development of a $750 million casino project adjacent to the Harbor Park Minor League Baseball stadium.
On Tuesday, the Norfolk City Council approved the lease agreement with Boyd Gaming Corporation. This ordinance allows Boyd to use city-owned land for constructing and staging equipment, as well as providing parking for workers.
Boyd Gaming will initially remit $5,000 monthly, totaling $60,000 annually, for the use of 3.87 acres located just west of Reeves Avenue between Brown and Claiborne Avenues. The lease is valid until December 31, 2027.
Notably, Boyd is only required to pay for the space it occupies during the final year of the lease. According to the terms, the tenant can terminate or adjust the lease to only include space necessary for staging and parking.
If there is a reduction in the leased area, the Rent due will reflect this reduction proportionally (for instance, a 50% reduction in space would equate to a 50% reduction in rent).
The monthly rent of $5,000 is due on the first day of each month and will increase by 3% annually from the lease’s start date.
This leased land is positioned just east of the ongoing casino construction site, across the Norfolk Southern Railway.
Norfolk Casino Overview
The Pamunkey Indian Tribe, designated as Norfolk’s exclusive gaming partner for the casino project, enlisted Boyd Gaming last year to accelerate the delayed initiative. Prior to 2020, the Pamunkey Tribe considered establishing a tribal casino in Norfolk alongside billionaire Jon Yarbrough.
Yarbrough has since sold his 80% interest in the project to Boyd at an undisclosed price. Boyd has streamlined the licensing and approval processes, commencing substantial construction in February.
The forthcoming Norfolk casino, which is yet to be named, will feature a 200-room hotel, 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, and a sportsbook. Additional amenities include eight dining options, a fully-equipped gym, a rooftop terrace, 13,000 square feet of meeting facilities, and a parking garage with 1,000 spaces, including designated spots for Amtrak passengers.
This full-scale resort is anticipated to open in 2027, expected to generate approximately 850 jobs.
Temporary Casino Opening
In the interim, a temporary casino is required to launch on the construction site by November 15. A local initiative approved by Norfolk voters in November 2020 mandates that some form of gaming begins on the designated location at 200 Park Avenue within five years.
Boyd has announced that The Interim Gaming Hall will debut early next month, featuring 130 slot machines, but will lack table games and sports betting. This tented facility will operate daily from 10 am to 2 am, offering drinks, including alcoholic beverages, and food options from an on-site food truck.