Norfolk’s HeadWaters Casino Plans Receive Good News To Start 2025

The realization of the HeadWaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk is getting closer.

The lease extension for the Norfolk Tides, the area’s minor league baseball team, was approved by the Norfolk City Council. This agreement, which incorporates various provisions for the casino, brings positive developments for the project.

What to know about Norfolk’s HeadWaters Casino and the new agreement

The newly established agreement permits workers to utilize a portion of the baseball team’s parking lot for housing machines, vehicles, and materials during the construction process. Moreover, the city insists on obtaining complete authority over the revenue generated from naming rights, whether it originates from the casino or its owner, the Pamunkey Tribe. The casino has intentions to eventually purchase the land from the city, which will result in the land officially being excluded from the baseball team’s lease.

In addition, the city has announced its intention to sell more land to the casino, which is situated to the east of the outfield fence. This particular land currently houses the visiting team’s bullpen and a picnic area.

Moreover, it is the city’s duty to replace specific facilities during the construction process. As per the agreement, the city is obliged to replace the bullpen before selling the land to the casino. This requirement also applies to the picnic area that will be purchased by the casino. If the construction activities disrupt the team’s scoreboard or video boards, it is the city’s responsibility to relocate them.

Building the temporary Norfolk casino has been ‘pretty challenging’

According to Norfolk City Manager Chip Filer, construction planning has posed difficulties thus far. In an interview with WAVY-TV in December, Filer mentioned that the site for the project is not as spacious as other ventures. The temporary casino for the Pamunkey Tribe will be situated in the parking lot of the baseball stadium, which will also serve as its permanent location.

He mentioned that it would be ideal if we had a vast open field to construct our casino. However, the current site poses significant challenges. It has generated various issues, including determining the laydown area and managing the construction of both the temporary and permanent casino simultaneously.

Why previous plans for the HeadWaters casino fell through

The location of the temporary casino abruptly halted plans.

The temporary casino was planned to operate in the baseball team’s stadium while the construction of its permanent facility was ongoing. However, in order for this to occur, it was crucial that the casino be situated in a specific location.

According to the referendum, the designated location for the casino was specified as 200 Park Avenue. However, since the Tide’s stadium is situated at 150 Park Ave., it is not permissible to establish a casino at that particular spot.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that city officials were well-informed about the issue, yet they decided to proceed with the project instead of relocating. They were aware that revealing this hiccup would lead to the plans falling through.

City officials were evasive when asked about the address change, as reported in the paper. They referred to it as a “boundary adjustment” but refrained from disclosing the underlying reasons for the change.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, the city altered the address of Harbor Park baseball stadium in what seems to be an effort to bypass the language mentioned in the casino referendum that was endorsed by Norfolk voters.

When will the new casino open?

The estimated timeline for the construction of the permanent casino is approximately 18-24 months. On the other hand, the temporary casino will open its doors earlier.

After its completion, the permanent casino will offer a range of amenities including a 300-room hotel, an entertainment venue, diverse dining options, both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as a spa.

Imagine Bristol Casino, the future home of Hard Rock. Although it was the first casino in the state, it was only temporary. The construction is anticipated to finish by spring 2025. Meanwhile, customers can enjoy 870 slot machines, 21 tables, and a sportsbook in the casino’s 30,000-square foot facility.

Furthermore, the casino establishment will organize a job fair catering to individuals interested in engaging in the construction process or seeking permanent employment once the casino is completed. The venture will create 2,000 temporary job opportunities in construction and 2,500 long-term positions.