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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 ou[...]
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 marketing […][...]
Norfolk eyes $18M purchase of MacArthur Center mall
Read update: Norfolk City Council votes to buy mall Norfolk City Council will discuss acquiring the struggling downtown MacArthur Center mall for $18 million during a special meeting Wednesday. MacArthur Center is owned by Wells Fargo & Co., which holds the mall following a loan default by the mall’s previous owner, Co[...]
36 Va. companies make 2023 Fortune 1000 list
Thirty-six Virginia-based companies made Fortune magazine’s 69th annual Fortune 1000 list, notably including newcomers to the commonwealth Raytheon Technologies Corp. and Boeing Co. as Virginia’s second and third highest-ranking companies. Freddie Mac remained Virginia’s top-ranked company, at No. 45, and 24 Virginia companies made this year’s elite Fortune 500 list. Released Monday, the Fortune 1000 […][...]
VPAP names new director
Chris Piper, former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections under Gov. Ralph Northam, will be the next director of the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) after founder David Poole retires on June 30, the organization announced. Founded in 1997, VPAP started as a joint effort by the state’s five largest news[...]
SCHEV director to step down
Peter Blake, the long-time director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), will step down by the end of the year, SCHEV announced Thursday. Blake has been director of SCHEV since 2012. The state higher education agency makes policy recommendations and approves new degree programs and schools within univer[...]
Va. casinos report $35.4M in April revenue
Gaming revenues from Virginia’s two casinos open in April totaled $35.4 million last month, according to data released Monday from the Virginia Lottery. Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which received its casino license in November 2022 and opened Jan. 23, reported $21.3 million in adjusted gross revenue (wagers minus winnings) in Ap[...]
Virginians bet almost $512M on sports in March
Virginians won $456 million but bet $511.6 million on sports in March, a 9% increase in betting expenditures over March 2022, according to data released Monday by the Virginia Lottery. About $507 million of sports betting revenue came from mobile operators, with the remaining almost $4.59 million coming from casino retail activi[...]
May 2023 Top Five
The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from March 14 to April 13 included Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s efforts to sell the Ashburn-based NFL team to a group of bidders including Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris and NBA legend Magic Johnson. 1 | Naval operations building in Suffolk sells for $33M Home […]
Lottery approves Danville Caesars casino’s license
UPDATED: April 26, 4 p.m. The Virginia Lottery Board approved the facility operator’s license for Danville’s $650 million Caesars Virginia casino, which is expected to open in a temporary space on May 15. It’s the third casino to receive state approval, following the Hard Rock casino in Bristol and Rivers Cas[...]
Va. to establish trade office in Taiwan
Virginia will establish a trade office in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday morning after meeting with that country’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. Youngkin’s meeting with Taiwan’s president came during the governor’s first international trade mission, during which he will al[...]
Chesterfield hires first sports/visitation/entertainment exec
Chesterfield County has hired J.C. Poma as its first executive director of sports, visitation and entertainment, with a focus on growing sports tourism, the county announced Friday. Currently the vice president of community relations for regional marketing organization Richmond Region Tourism, Poma will start his new position wi[...]
