Tourism: New attractions open, break ground statewide

Virginia gained several tourism attractions in the last year, from casino resorts to sports facilities, and saw more projects get underway.

In 2024, Virginia’s three casinos brought in about $732.2 million in adjusted gaming revenues, up nearly 32% from 2023. Part of that increase can be attributed to the Caesars Virginia casino in Danville, which opened its temporary facility midway through 2023 and its permanent casino in December 2024.

The Danville casino’s grand opening followed that of the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in November 2024, creating the second and third permanent casinos in the state. (The first, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, opened in January 2023.)

And more are on the way. The development team for the delayed Norfolk casino held a groundbreaking Oct. 30, 2024, shortly after receiving Norfolk City Council approval. And in Central Virginia, more than 80% of Petersburg voters approved the city’s casino referendum in November 2024, greenlighting Cordish Cos.’ $1.4 billion proposal. Meanwhile, a contentious proposal to hold a casino referendum in Fairfax County appeared stalled in the General Assembly.

Other entertainment venues gained headway last year and are expected to open in 2025. Richmond’s 7,500-seat Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, a project from Live Nation and Charlottesville’s Red Light Ventures, started construction in January 2024 and is set to open in June. In Virginia Beach, The Dome, a 3,500-seat concert venue with space for an additional 1,500 people outdoors, will open in May. It’s part of Atlantic Park, a $350 million mixed-use entertainment venue and surf lagoon project backed by music icon Pharrell Williams and Venture Realty Group.

Atlantic Park’s 2.67-acre surf lagoon isn’t the only facility designed to attract sports enthusiasts. Part of the $2.4 billion Diamond District redevelopment, the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ new baseball stadium, CarMax Park, is expected to be ready for the 2026 season. The team held a ceremonial groundbreaking in September 2024.

Neighboring Henrico County announced in April 2024 that Shamin Hotels will build two hotels and two restaurants beside the 185,000-square-foot Henrico Sports & Events Center, which opened in 2023. Not to be left out, Chesterfield County opened The Diamonds at Iron Bridge, with six renovated baseball and softball fields at Harry G. Daniel Park, in June 2024. In November 2024, the county completed four new turf fields at its River City Sportsplex, giving the facility a total of 16 fields.

Officials from the three Historic Triangle localities held a groundbreaking in August 2024 for the Williamsburg Sports and Events Center, which will house a turf field, various courts and a climbing wall when complete in 2026.

Nearby, Norfolk’s emerging plans for the former Military Circle mall property include a mixed-use redevelopment that would center on a tournament-caliber ice rink complex. The city also plans to renovate the 10,000-seat Scope Arena, with $4.5 million earmarked in 2025 and 2026 for design and $54 million, beginning in 2027, for renovations.