Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies have responded to a request for proposal issued by the City of Petersburg, Virginia with plans to codevelop a $1.4 billion Live! Gaming & Entertainment District, anchored by Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia. The proposed project will generate billions of dollars in economic benefits and spinoff development, create thousands of new jobs and benefits to the local community, and become a major new tourist destination for the City and the Central Virginia region.

The proposed site is ideally situated at the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95 with easy access on and off the East Coast’s major north-south interstate, making it the premier location in the Commonwealth. The partners also intend to quickly open an initial first phase casino within a year to begin creating jobs, vendor opportunities and economic benefits immediately for the City of Petersburg and its residents.

Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies’ longstanding relationship dates back to 2008, and most recently the team has partnered to bring a world-class casino resort destination to the Commonwealth. The joint venture partnership is the first-of-its-kind in the gaming and entertainment industry to have a minority-owned business enterprise as co-development partner.

The Petersburg ownership team, which makes up 50% minority equity participation, will become the largest minority ownership opportunity in the gaming and hospitality industry in the country, and will become a model for other projects in Virginia and throughout the nation. The team includes substantial investment from prominent minority businesses and individuals with a long history of residing, working, and investing in the Commonwealth including former Cox Communications GM and philanthropist Gary McCollum, former Philadelphia Eagle and University of Virginia All-American receiver Billy McMullen, and the Reynolds Family, founding family of Reynolds Metals.

Bruce Smith Enterprise, led by legendary NFL Hall of Fame member and Virginia native Bruce Smith, is a commercial real estate firm that specializes in the development of premier mixed-use projects. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the company has developed notable properties throughout the state and the Mid-Atlantic region that feature the cohesive and seamless integration of residential, hotel, Class A office, and retail space. Since retiring from professional football in 2004 after a prolific 19-year career, the NFL’s All-Time Sack Leader has endeavored to bring the same level of unparalleled excellence, diligence, and leadership that he honed as a veteran on the field to the management of Bruce Smith Enterprise. The successful development of timeless mixed-use properties that survive and withstand trends of the marketplace, strengthen, and invigorate the local economy and create jobs are core values of Bruce Smith Enterprise’s primary mission.

Bruce Smith Enterprise has flourished since its inception in 2004, partnering with Armada Hoffler in the development of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, The Swedish Embassy, Harbourside Office Building in Washington, D.C., and Blocks 7 and 10 in The Town Center of Virginia Beach, VA. Bruce Smith Enterprise’s portfolio also includes the Hilton Garden Inn and Smith’s Landing apartment community in Blacksburg, VA – a project built to service the needs of students, alumni, and their families at Smith’s Virginia Tech alma mater – as well as the Hyatt House Hotel and 27 Atlantic Apartments in Virginia Beach.

“I love Virginia. I was born and raised here. I attended VA Tech as a student athlete here, and after retiring from the NFL, I returned home with the inspiration and determination to help make it a more advantageous and prosperous place to live,” said Bruce Smith, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Prominent Virginian Developer and Community Leader.

“I have spent significant time in Petersburg talking with students and the community at large. I’ve had the opportunity to hear first-hand their stories of hardship, and I understand the struggle and the enormous challenges they face. Working as a developer in the state for over 20 years, I’m confident that Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies are the right partners for this undertaking, because we share the same vision and understand the needs of the City of Petersburg and its citizens. Together we can do remarkable work in Petersburg that will transform lives, restore hope, and ultimately imbue a new energy of revitalization that will be felt for generations. Our proposal represents a historic opportunity to prioritize the Petersburg community and put Virginians first,” Bruce Smith added.

“We are incredibly proud to join Bruce Smith and his team to present our vision for a transformational, world-class destination in Petersburg. As our development partner, Bruce shares our core values in investing for the long-term and creating jobs and opportunities for the community. No one comes close to our combined history of success and capabilities to be able to deliver a destination of this scale and complexity. The Cordish Companies’ track record for designing, financing, building, and operating large-scale mixed-use developments and casino resort destinations in the country is unmatched. Our success includes achieving every commitment, program, and goal in our proposals for cities across the country. We are committed to excellence, creating unforgettable experiences for our guests, and treating our team members and communities like family,” Zed Smith, Chief Operating Officer for The Cordish Companies, said.