On Wednesday, Boyd Gaming and its local partner, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, commenced construction on a $750 million casino resort in Norfolk, Virginia. This investment marks a significant increase from previous plans, reflecting an additional quarter of a billion dollars.
Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, Virginia Sen. Angelia Williams Graves, and Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander attended the groundbreaking ceremony, held alongside the Elizabeth River near the city’s baseball stadium.
After years of delays, the Pamunkey Tribe, designated as Norfolk’s exclusive gaming developer since a 2020 legislative decision, began construction. The complex, set beside Harbor Park Minor League Baseball stadium, represents a historic moment following the Pamunkey’s prior financier, Jon Yarbrough, transferring his stake to Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming.
“In three short years, this site will be home to a $750 million entertainment and gaming destination that this entire community will be able to take pride in. A destination that will draw visitors from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” stated Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith.
Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray highlighted the tribe’s longstanding connection to the Norfolk area, dating back 10,000 years. “Our ancestors lived, hunted, fished, and traded in the Tidewater, Virginia, area. While the tribe has endured periods of adversity, those times have made us stronger. Today, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Norfolk to embark on a project that will lift up both of our communities.”
To underline their regional commitment, Boyd and the Pamunkey Tribe donated $100,000 to Norfolk State University during the groundbreaking.
In 2018, the Pamunkey people sought to enhance their economic sovereignty by joining forces with Yarbrough on a casino project targeting Norfolk. After the city was approved for a commercial casino, the tribe secured exclusive gaming developer status to prevent competing casinos.
Operating as Golden Eagle Consulting II, LLC, Yarbrough and the Pamunkey Tribe faced numerous challenges with their $500 million HeadWaters casino project. Legal issues and a $14 billion infrastructure bill, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, which funded a $400 million, 17-foot-high seawall along the Elizabeth River, necessitated design changes and further delays. This seawall disrupted their original plans for a riverfront hotel and marina.
Several months ago, Yarbrough sold his 80% stake in Golden Eagle to Boyd Gaming. With Boyd’s resources, the project quickly finalized its plans and received approval to begin construction.
Boyd Gaming has since opted to rename the venture with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, although no new name was announced at the groundbreaking. The forthcoming $750 million resort will feature a 200-room hotel, eight bars and restaurants, a live entertainment venue, meeting space, a resort pool, a casino floor with 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook.
During construction, a temporary gaming pavilion is expected to operate on-site as allowed by the 2020 casino bill. Virginia law permits smoking inside the casino, but a group of potential casino employees rallied at the groundbreaking to urge Boyd to reconsider exploiting this indoor smoking loophole.
