The ground has been broken at the site of the Live! casino and hotel resort in Petersburg, Virginia.
The Bruce Smith Enterprise, along with The Cordish Companies, Cordish Gaming, and local delegates from Petersburg joined forces to commence the project.
Petersburg City Mayor Sam Parham and members of the City Council, Virginia State Senator Lashrecse Aird, and Virginia State Delegate Kim Taylor were in attendance at the launch.
Construction is now underway on the ambitious $1.4 billion plan to deliver a mixed-use resort which is envisaged to “uplift, empower, and enrich” the local community into the future.
“It has been a source of immense satisfaction and pride to partner in this incredible development,” said Bruce Smith, founder of the enterprise that shares his name.
“For far too long people have simply driven by the City of Petersburg, but today marks the beginning of a new era in which Petersburg will become a prime destination.
He continued, “This pivotal project will ignite tourism, create jobs, and ultimately deliver on the promise of greater opportunity and upward mobility for local families. As a champion of Petersburg and its residents, I am happily confident that this historic development will uplift, empower, and enrich this community for years to come.”
$2.8 billion stimulus for the wider Petersburg region
Delivery of the overall project is expected in phases with the Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is anticipated to open its doors in 2027.
Before then, a 75,000-square-foot temporary gaming facility will open on the site by the end of the current year.
It will kickstart the flow of economic benefits and income for the community, as well as starting jobs before the main venue is delivered.
The masterplan includes more than 450,000 square feet of gaming, hotel and dining space, with a further 75,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.
A 200-room hotel is planned, including 1,600 slot machines, table areas, and a 22-table poker room, with an adjacent 4,000-seat entertainment venue.
It is expected that the entire casino resort will herald 1,400 permanent jobs over its first decade in business, while supporting 6,100 construction opportunities.
Petersburg Live! Has been tipped to provide a $2.8b economic boost for the wider region, with $240 in tax revenue bound for the city purse over the opening 10 years.
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