A Sports Illustrated Resort Is Coming To A Houston Suburb Just As Similar Plans Are Thwarted Elsewhere

On the heels of its namesake publication laying off many of its employees and heavy criticism of its designs for a Big Ten market, plans for a Sports Illustrated-branded resort were announced Wednesday for the Houston suburb of Texas City.

Sports Hospitality Ventures LLC, the hotel and resorts licensee for the Sports Illustrated brand across North America and the Caribbean, and Lagoon Development Co. announced their joint venture for the Sports Illustrated Resort at Lago Mar this week.

Lago Mar is a 2,033-acre master-planned community that is home to a 12-acre lagoon, a man-made beach amenity open to the public. The Sports Illustrated Resort at Lago Mar will include a nine-story building with 200 rooms, some offering a view of the 24-million-gallon lagoon, according to a news release.

“This partnership blends the dynamic energy of sports with the exceptional hospitality of Texas, creating a haven in the heart of the Lone Star State,” Uri Man, founder and CEO of Lagoon Development, said in the release.

But as the Houston-area project was announced, another potential Sports Illustrated resort drew criticism at a public meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ann Arbor is home to both the University of Michigan and Sports Illustrated Resorts' CEO Chris Schroeder, according to WXYZ Detroit. 

Schroeder argued that Sports Illustrated resorts are destinations that have been given millions of dollars by other states hungry for the investment. One resort is under development in Orlando, Florida, and another is planned for Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

But some residents weren’t convinced.

“Why would the city be partnering with an organization that is restructuring right now and perhaps, best known for exploiting women in a swimsuit issue? Is that our brand in Ann Arbor?” resident Jeff Hayner said during the meeting Monday night, according to the WXYZ article. 

Developers of the downtown Ann Arbor hotel, condo building and conference center announced Wednesday that they would shelve those plans and seek alternate sites for the project.

Sports Illustrated also laid off more than 40 employees this month as part of a company restructuring.

The Texas City project seems to signal a move away from Sports Illustrated Resorts' strategy of developing in mostly college towns.

The news release teases “suites tailored for on-the-go professionals.” Amenities will include Stadium Sports Grill and the Sports Illustrated Beach Club, which will have beachside cabanas, resort services and a swim-up island bar, the release states.

“This location in Texas City is an exciting venture for us,” Schroeder said in the news release. “Texas sports, especially Houston sports, are integral to this state, and we are pleased to bring this resort to such a dedicated fan base.” 

The hotel will be managed by American Resort Management. Groundbreaking is set for the third quarter of this year, according to the release.