By HRCNN Staff Writer, Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN)
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Rivers Casino Portsmouth is moving forward with its most ambitious expansion yet: The Landing Hotel, an eight-story addition set to redefine the city’s entertainment and hospitality landscape.
Announced in May 2025 and backed by parent company Rush Street Gaming, the $65 million project is more than a hotel. It is the next stage in Portsmouth’s plan to anchor Victory Boulevard with a world-class entertainment district.
The Landing Hotel will feature 106 guest rooms, including 32 suites and two “super suites” offering more than 800 square feet. Plans also include a lobby reception, a ground-floor bar, and multiple executive boardrooms. Each element is designed to connect directly to the casino’s restaurants, gaming floor, and 25,000-square-foot Event Center.
Construction began in summer 2025, with completion expected in early 2027. In July, Rush Street Gaming selected Norfolk-based S.B. Ballard Construction Company as general contractor, ensuring the project would be led by a Hampton Roads firm with a record of managing complex commercial builds.
The project reflects years of groundwork. In 2020, Virginia’s General Assembly approved casino gaming in five cities. Portsmouth voters backed the measure that November, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened in January 2023 as the Commonwealth’s first permanent casino facility.
The Landing Hotel is the logical sequel. It will provide the overnight capacity needed to attract tourism dollars and strengthen Portsmouth’s competitive edge. That competition is pressing, as Norfolk advances its own permanent casino project and operates temporary facilities.
Rivers executives have said The Landing Hotel is both a hospitality upgrade and a strategic defense to maintain market share. Private financing underscores Rush Street Gaming’s confidence in Portsmouth’s entertainment economy, while avoiding public subsidy.
The hotel’s expanded meeting space and suites are designed to keep revenue on site, hosting concerts, conventions, and executive gatherings without losing visitors to hotels elsewhere in the region.
On November 29, 2025, the casino will showcase that vision when country music rising star Chase Matthew performs live at 8 p.m. in the Event Center. For guests, it will be a night of music. For developers, it will be proof of concept—the kind of programming The Landing Hotel is built to support when it opens in 2027.
About HRCNN
The Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN) provides accurate, builder-informed coverage of construction, zoning, and infrastructure across Coastal Virginia. Founded under Earthly Infrastructure®, HRCNN supports transparent decision-making, resilient infrastructure, and responsible growth.