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Richmond casino returning to Nov. ballots
It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court have approved Richmond’s do-over casino referendum to appear on ballots this fall. “I am excited to see the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court approve the referendum for a Richmond destination resort and entertainment venue that will provide 1,300 good-paying […]
Richmond riverfront amphitheater gets green light
Construction could begin this summer on a $30 million, 7,500-person amphitheater overlooking the James River. On June 12, Richmond City Council approved a 20-year performance grant that gives Red Light Ventures LLC the green light to build its proposed amphitheater on four acres of land it will rent from NewMarket Corp. behind the American Civil […]
Luxury RV park sets sights on Danville
Danville visitors could soon be setting up camp at the area’s first luxury RV park if City Council approves a special use permit for The Palace Resort, a project that could generate $1.3 million in annual city tax revenue. The matter was set to go before Danville City Council on June 20, following the planning […]
FloydFest cancelation causes economic ripples
FloydFest, a five-day celebration showcasing more than 100 performers, has had an annual regional economic impact of about $4 million since its 2002 founding, according to festival organizers. Even so, county officials and local business owners seem to be taking a “c’est la vie” attitude to the cancelation in April of this year’s FloydFest, which […]
LORI COLLIER WARAN
As the first woman to lead NASCAR’s Richmond Raceway, Lori Collier Waran races circles around everyone — literally. In July 2022, Waran grabbed the steering wheel and took over as the raceway’s president. It marked a big career switch for Waran, who previously served as publisher of Richmond-based Style Weekly magazine and associate publisher and […]
2023 Va. hotel revenues up 12.9% over pre-pandemic
Hotel revenues in the commonwealth this year were 12.9% higher from January through May, compared with pre-pandemic business during the same period in 2019, according to data released Tuesday by STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Hotel rooms sold were about the same compared […]
HeadWaters developers scrap temporary casino plans
The developers of the $500 million HeadWaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk have scrapped plans to open a 45,000-square-foot temporary casino, instead focusing all their efforts on building the permanent casino, which will open before construction begins on an associated hotel and other planned amenities. “We have changed our approach and gone with a first-class experience […]
Richmond region launches state’s first tourism district
Virginia’s first tourism improvement district received approval this week and can begin collecting funds from Richmond-region travelers to fund tourism marketing efforts beginning July 1. Following Richmond City Council’s approval vote this week, the new tourism improvement district, or TID, received the necessary support to move forward. Designated areas that raise funds for tourism m[...]
Richmond riverfront amphitheater gets green light
Red Light Ventures LLC’s $30 million, 7,500-person riverfront amphitheater received a green light Monday from Richmond City Council, which approved a performance grant that paves the way for construction of the proposed music and performance venue to start as soon as this summer. With plans to host up to 35 major acts annually, Red Light […]
Richmond City Council passes casino legislation — again
Richmond City Council on Monday selected RVA Entertainment Holdings LLC — a joint venture between Urban One Inc. and Churchill Downs Inc. — as the city’s preferred casino operator, one of several administrative steps the city must take before a mulligan casino referendum lands on ballots in November, asking voters to reconsider allowing the proposed […]
Something in the Water brings crowds back to beach
Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water made a splashy comeback to Virginia Beach from April 28-30, although wind and rain delayed the music festival’s start, and lightning and a tornado watch canceled the entire last day. Organizers promised attendees a one-third refund for tickets, which sold for $125 to $600. Williams, a Virginia Beach native, […]
Richmond City Council approves Diamond District
Richmond City Council voted unanimously May 8 to approve the $2.44 billion Diamond District project, which includes a replacement for the aging stadium that’s home to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball team. The Diamond District’s first phase, expected to cost $627.6 million, includes a 9,000-capacity, $90 million-plus baseball stadium and a hotel with at […]
