The Pamunkey Indian Tribe in Virginia recently announced it will not pursue building a temporary HeadWaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk at Harbor Park Stadium. Instead, the tribe will construct the temporary casino, expected to open in spring 2023, on the parking lot of the future permanent facility.
The city announced last March it was in discussions with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe about opening a venue with “limited gaming” in the former Norfolk Boxing + Fitness Center and the Hits at the Park Restaurant in Harbor Park Stadium. Both were on the first-base side of the city-owned baseball park.
Under state law, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe could apply for a temporary operating permit providing the temporary operation is in the “footprint where the casino will be located.” Project spokesman Jay Smith said, “The tribe and the city of Norfolk had explored locating the temporary facility in an underutilized area of Harbor Park because it provided a unique win-win opportunity to upgrade a city-owned, aging facility that would also benefit the community and the fans at no taxpayer expense, while generating immediate revenue for the city.”
However, the law approved by voters in November 2020 specifically would allow gaming “east” of Harbor Park at 200 Park Avenue and not in Harbor Park at 150 Park Avenue. Now, Smith said, “The plan to locate the initial casino in the parking lot to the east of the ballpark is a win for the city and will result in an even better customer experience at the new Pamunkey Casino.” Construction of the temporary casino can begin as soon as the city approves a site plan.
The federally recognized Pamunkey Indian Tribe and its partner, Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough, have a development agreement with Norfolk to build a $500 million resort casino on more than 13 acres between Harbor Park and the Norfolk Southern Railroad line on the banks of the Elizabeth River.
Pamunkey Indian Tribe Chief Robert Gray noted, “When we first announced this project with the city of Norfolk, we described it as not only a major private investment in the city, but a partnership between the tribe, the city and this community. We will be providing a major capital investment, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions of local tax dollars that can be used to address aging schools and other critical city priorities. But equally important, we will be in the community, working with so many organizations in Norfolk to address food insecurity and supporting other organizations in need.”
Once it’s fully operational, HeadWaters is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue for Norfolk, to be primarily directed towards public schools.
