HeadWaters Resort & Casino is now the exclusive casino partner of Norfolk’s minor league baseball team, the Tides.
The partnership will allow HeadWaters Resort & Casino to have exclusive advertising rights with the Tides for casino gaming in and outside of the stadium, according to a news release issued Tuesday. The casino will also have the largest signage on the centerfield wall and will be showcased on numerous pieces of merchandise at the ballpark in Virginia.
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HeadWaters will also serve as a sponsor for giveaways, between-inning contests, fireworks and other special events throughout the baseball season, the release said. The Tides are the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
The casino is not set to open until 2023, but the partnership with the Tides will begin with the 2021 baseball season.
“We may be a year or more away from opening our doors, but we didn’t want to wait to make a big splash in Norfolk,” Robert Gray, chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, said in the release. “Supporting the community includes supporting our neighbors, and that starts now.”
HeadWaters will also take over the suite that was assigned to Norfolk Southern, a company known for its support of the city, the release said. The casino will also purchase a large block of season tickets.
“We are excited about what the HeadWaters Resort & Casino’s partnership will do for the Tides and the entire community of Hampton Roads,” Tides owner Ken Young said. “Long-term commitments such as this one — and of this scale — provide long-term stability for the Tides organization and help ensure the future success of the organization.”
Casino Name
The HeadWaters Resort & Casino and Norfolk Tides merger come soon after the Pamunkey Indian Tribe revealed the HeadWaters name for its gaming facility. The tribe and the city said the new casino's name, HeadWaters, represents the beginning of a river, and the new facility highlights how it’s a new chapter for the area.
“Excitement is building and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the name,” Gray said at the time. “There’s just something about having a name that makes it feel more real. I’m confident that HeadWaters Resort & Casino will exceed even the highest of expectations and will make Norfolk proud.”
The casino will include over 300 rooms with panoramic views of the Elizabeth River and into Harbor Park. Guests can expect amenities such as a gaming floor, rooftop bar, waterside infinity pool, sports bar and girl, luxury spa, multi-purpose event center and a rooftop outdoor space.
The project was approved when residents voted in favor of it in November. Construction is set to start once the Virginia Lottery approves the casino operator license application.
