Resort Casino Evaluation Panel Reduces Short List To Two Operators

Press release from the City of Richmond:

April 21, 2021

The City of Richmond’s
Resort Casino Evaluation Panel has reduced the shortlist of proposed resort
casino projects being considered to Live! Casino & Hotel Richmond and ONE
Casino + Resort.

The
proposed Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort and the project’s proposed site of
Parkway Crossings (Chippenham Parkway and Powhite Parkway) are no longer being
considered by the Evaluation Panel.

“We
appreciate Bally’s interest to develop a resort casino project in Richmond,”
said Leonard Sledge, Director of the city’s Department of Economic
Development. “The Evaluation Panel is no longer considering the Bally’s
project or the Parkway Crossings site for a resort casino due to concerns about
site access, environmental factors, and required approvals from non-city
entities that may not be granted or extend the project timeline. We also
appreciate the many Richmond citizens who have shared their thoughts throughout
this process.”

The
Evaluation Panel is continuing its evaluation of the remaining proposals and
sites (Live! Casino & Hotel at 1301 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard and ONE Casino
+ Resort at 2001 Walmsley Boulevard). Factors in the evaluation of the
proposals include: community impact and community benefits; location;
direct revenue impact to the city; project feasibility and project
sustainability; and economic development impact.

While
the City has concluded its first two phases of community engagement, citizens are
encouraged to continue to share their comments on the proposed resort casino
projects. Comments can be emailed to econdev@richmondgov.com. The next phase of the
city-led community engagement will start in May when the Evaluation Panel
shares its recommended operator, location, and terms of the deal. The City has
not promoted and is not participating in meetings convened by the two remaining
respondents.

Information
on the City’s resort casino competitive process can be found at https://www.rva.gov/economic-development/resort-casino.

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This press release was produced by the City of Richmond.The views expressed here are the author’s own.