NORFOLK — With the blare of marching band horns and an Algonquin greeting from the Pamunkey Indian Tribe chief, officials ceremonially broke ground on a long-planned Norfolk casino project Wednesday morning. The still-unnamed casino, located next to Harbor Park in downtown Norfolk, was celebrated by Norfolk city leaders and development partner Boyd Gaming in a ceremonial groundbreaking event. Actual construction will start in the next few months, according to Boyd Gaming President and CEO Keith Smith. After a performance from Norfolk State University’s marching band, Pamunkey Indian Tribe Chief Robert Gray welcomed attendees in the tribe’s Algonquin language. Gray praised the milestone in the years-long casino project. “Today isn’t just breaking ground on a casino,” Gray said. “It’s the next step in providing an opportunity for our tribe and other Virginia tribes.” During remarks, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander hoped the casino area would become an economic and cultural hub for the Hampton Roads region. Smith said his company, which has been working on the project for around six to eight months, was putting its almost-50 years of experience into developing the casino. “And so, this is for real,” Smith said in later comments to the media. The project also has a new price tag. In an investor call, Smith said that the total project cost estimate at this time is $750 million. That’s a larger figure than the $500 million cost Boyd officials told The Virginian-Pilot earlier this year. Current casino plans include a 200-room hotel, eight food and beverage outlets, and a casino with 1,500 slots and 50 table games, Smith said during the call. The project size has shrunk since it was first announced by the Pamunkey tribe, and no longer includes a marina on the Elizabeth River. Norfolk voters approved the casino construction in a 2020 referendum, which came with a five-year deadline. To meet that deadline for obtaining a state gaming license, Boyd plans to build a temporary casino at the site while construction for the permanent casino commences. Boyd officials said the temporary casino would open in late 2025 and the permanent space in late 2027. Story Continues
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