After what seemed like an eternity of red tape and nail-biting anticipation, Norfolk’s local casino project has finally been given the green light to proceed by city officials. This high-stakes venture, proposed in collaboration between industry heavyweight Boyd Gaming and the historic Pamunkey Indian Tribe, found itself trapped in legislative purgatory for a slow-grinding four years, even after winning voter approval in a landslide. But today, its time to ante up.
City Council Rolls the Dice on Development
In a recent City Council meeting that felt more like a tense poker game than a formal proceeding, councilors put their cards on the table. A decisive ordinance was passed, granting the much-coveted development certificate, thus giving the nod for construction to proceed. The vote resonated like the roll of sevens across the room—a resounding 7-to-1 in favor of the long-awaited project.
The grand vision set for 200 Park Avenue, conveniently nestled next to the bustling local MLB stadium, carries a monumental price tag of $500 million. It’s a sizeable bet, but the payoff promises to invigorate Norfolk’s economy with generous tax revenues and sizeable economic gains reminiscent of hitting the jackpot.
The journey here has been no luck of the draw. The project had been caught in a bureaucratic spiderweb made of endless regulations and legal hitches. To make matters even more complex, recent anti-flood measures along the Elizabeth River tested the resilience and patience of Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Tribe.
Although the council’s approval marks a turning point, it’s far from the final hand. The developers now face the rigorous task of securing building permits before they can even break ground.
Boyd Plans a Teaser with a Temporary Pavilion Casino
Though the Norfolk casino initiative was initially given a rousing 65% thumbs-up by the local electorate back in 2020, its slow progress has left many wondering if the city was holding onto a busted flush. Meanwhile, Rivers Casino in neighboring Portsmouth has been raking in tax chips for over eighteen months, highlighting the fiscal benefits Norfolk has been missing out on.
In a move as inevitable as drawing a face card in blackjack, city officials opted to fast-track the Norfolk venture. Interestingly, the lone dissenting voice was that of councilor Andria McClellan, who has persistently opposed the venture due to its controversial indoor smoking policy—a sticking point for any health-conscious gamblers.
The proposal’s origins trace back to Tennessee billionaire Jan Yarbrough, who once held an 80% stake in the project. However, he folded that hand, passing on the baton to Boyd Gaming. Boyd took this initial scheme, finessed its outline, and presented plans for a glittering resort hosting 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, and a bustling sportsbook—no small beans in the casino world.
While the grand plans take shape, Boyd and the Pamunkey Tribe have conjured a vision of immediate excitement—a 7,200-square-foot pavilion tent casino, which will stand temporarily in the project’s parking lot. Think of it as a delightful amuse-bouche before the main course. Here, the buzz of slot machines will echo and patrons will catch a sneak peek of what promises to be an enthralling addition to Norfolk’s entertainment landscape.
