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Tourism: Game on
According to the state government, visitor spending across Virginia surpassed $30 billion in 2022, exceeding 2019 expenditures by 4.4%. Nevertheless, business travel still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, particularly in Northern Virginia. But leisure travel is back and booming. Hotel revenues were up 13% statewide in 2[...]
Va. college sports betting proposal off the books for another year
RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers struck out again with a proposal to allow betting on Virginia college sports teams. Virginia law since 2021 has allowed sports betting through casinos and online sports books like FanDuel and BetMGM, with the exception of wagers on state youth and college sports. Some legislators have gone to bat to c[...]
Norfolk looks to renovate Scope, Chrysler Hall instead of building new arena
Norfolk no longer plans to build a new arena after Military Circle Mall is torn down, and instead is seriously considering renovating two city-owned venues downtown: the 53-year-old, 10,000-seat Scope Arena and the nearby 52-year-old Chrysler Hall, a 2,500-seat theater. “The participation of the public dollar that we would nee[...]
GMU report: Arena project would produce 5,400+ affordable housing units
Updated Feb. 22, 2024 A study conducted by George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis found that the proposed $2 billion Alexandria sports arena and entertainment district supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin would create more than 5,400 workforce-affordable housing units, far exceeding the city’s goals. The [...]
Va. unions oppose Alexandria arena, but governor sticks by it
The AFL-CIO’s Virginia member unions announced Tuesday that they oppose the proposed Alexandria arena for the Washington Capitols and Wizards teams and a surrounding entertainment district. The $2 billion deal has been promoted by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and some City of Alexandria officials, while receiving significant pushba[...]
Va. casinos report almost $53M in January revenue
January gaming revenues from Virginia’s three casinos totaled $52.86 million, according to Virginia Lottery data released Thursday. Virginia’s first casino, the Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock temporary facility, opened July 2022. The Virginia Lottery Board approved HR Bristol’s casino license in April 2022. Last [...]
Alexandria arena proposal economic impact report released
An economic and fiscal impact analysis released Friday by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership forecasts that the proposed Washington Capitals and Wizards arena in Alexandria could generate up to $7.96 billion in annual economic output for the state. Additionally, the report says the arena could be completed as soon a[...]
Lucas: Alexandria arena deal is dead as far as she’s concerned
A bill that would establish a state authority for the proposed Alexandria basketball and hockey arena is not on the Virginia State Senate’s Finance and Appropriations Committee’s docket “because [Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s] proposal is not ready for prime time,” wrote Sen. Louise Lucas, the committeeR[...]
Seeing the sites
Despite boasting a world-class port, a highly skilled workforce and easily accessible transportation infrastructures, Hampton Roads perennially comes away empty-handed in attracting large-scale industrial developments. Chalk it up to the region’s lack of shovel-ready sites, a situation that state and local economic development[...]
Fairfax, Petersburg could hold casino referendums
Two pending Virginia State Senate bills would change the list of locations eligible to host a casino, adding Petersburg and Fairfax County to the mix and removing Richmond. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology’s gaming subcommittee met to discuss these and other measures regarding skill games, sp[...]
Virginia Beach Holiday Inn sells for $16.25M
A 307-room Holiday Inn in Virginia Beach sold for $16.25 million in mid-December 2023, according to city property records. The six-story Holiday Inn Virginia Beach – Norfolk, located at 5655 Greenwich Road, was built in 1981, property records show. It opened in 1982, according to a news release from commercial real estate firm[...]
Fed’s Fifth District economy sees mild expansion
Economic activity in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) expanded mildly in recent weeks, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. Published eight times per year, the Beige Bo[...]
