New Live! Casino Could Be Coming To Virginia

The City of Petersburg has selected The Cordish Companies as its development partner for a new Virginia casino destination.

City officials voted Tuesday and unanimously chose the casino developer to help realize the vision for the city. 

In a statement, Zed Smith, Chief Operating Officer of The Cordish Companies, said, “The Cordish Companies is honored and excited to have been selected by the City of Petersburg as development partners on this transformative project.”

“Urban revitalization is at the heartbeat of The Cordish Companies’ DNA.”

Cordish Companies bringing Live! brand to Virginia casino landscape

Smith said the company’s mission to create a “world-class” entertainment venue aligns with all parties involved. Smith also said the development would create thousands of new jobs
and provide economic development to the local community. 

“We share Governor Youngkin, Mayor Parham and the Petersburg City Council’s commitment to create a world-class entertainment destination and mixed-use project with gaming that will generate millions of dollars in tax revenues.”

The Cordish Companies is one of the largest developers of mixed-use, entertainment and casino resort destinations in the US. Its Live! brand is well established in the surrounding area, including popular locations in Maryland, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. 

The company is also behind successful casino developments, including:

• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, FL
• Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
• Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
•  Live! Casino Pittsburgh

Next steps

“An important part of our evaluation was to identify a development partner with a proven track record in developing and operating mixed-use and casino properties,” said Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham. 

“The development of a casino in Petersburg is a once in a generation opportunity to set the course for economic growth for decades to come. We are confident that we have selected the ideal partner in The Cordish Companies to bring to fruition our vision for Petersburg,” Parham said.

The casino project has no timeline. The Virginia Gaming Commission must first approve casino plans. This casino development isn’t the only such process playing out in the state. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working on a casino in Danville, for example.

“We look forward to working with the City of Petersburg to deliver a transformative destination resort that will add new amenities to the area and draw new visitors from throughout the region to enhance the City’s tourism efforts,” Smith said.