NORFOLK, Va. — A national casino giant may be just what is needed to get the long-awaited Norfolk casino project off the ground.
After years of delays and renderings that have failed to even come close to fruition, there is new progress in the project formerly referred to as Headwaters, now dubbed "Project Mermaid."
On Tuesday, Norfolk City Council will vote on an updated agreement with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe regarding the purchase and development of the casino on a site near Harbor Park.
“I am thrilled to announce that our journey to bring a casino project to the Harbor Park Entertainment District has reached a major milestone. We have found the perfect partners to make this vision a reality,” Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander said in a statement.
That "perfect partner" was found in Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is taking over much of Gold Eagle Consulting, the entity created to establish the casino alongside the Pamunkey Tribe. Boyd operates 28 casino resorts in cities nationwide.
Together, they said they will work to create the “world-class hotel resort casino” that has been highly anticipated since voters authorized the project via a gaming referendum passed in 2020.
This includes plans for a spa, pool, and extensive gaming facility including 750 electronic gaming machines, 25 gaming tables, and 150 hotel rooms.
In a joint statement from both Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, a spokesman said: "The Pamunkey Indian Tribe has been working to develop a casino resort in Norfolk for the last several years. Boyd Gaming has started the process required to help the Tribe bring its vision to fruition, in a way that will deliver meaningful benefits for the Tribe, the City of Norfolk and the Commonwealth of Virginia."
The Tribe will now own at least 20% of the casino, as Boyd takes over financial and operational aspects of development.
Proposed construction schedules show a “transitional casino” set to open on the site in November 2025, just before that voter-granted authorization would be voided per state law.
Construction of the final resort and casino is expected to begin in January, with a grand opening planned for September 2027.
“This project will be a game-changer for our city, attracting visitors and residents alike, and driving significant private investment,” said Mayor Alexander.
City council is set to vote on the partnership in their next meeting on Tuesday, September 10, at 6 p.m.