Texas City is set to score a major leisure destination with the announcement of a new Sports Illustrated Resort planned to be juxtaposed with the sprawling 12-acre Crystal Lagoon at the Lago Mar master-planned community. In a partnership between Lagoon Development Co. and Sports Illustrated's hotel and resort licensee, Sports Hospitality Ventures LLC intends to transform the locale into a sporty haven. The resort, still in its early design phase, is anticipated to begin construction in the third quarter of this year, as reported by Houston Business Journal.
The site will boast a 200-room, six-story hotel replete with sport-themed frills like the Stadium Sports Grill restaurant and a public Beach Club that will sit on the lagoon shores, featuring opulent beachside cabanas, resort services and a swim-up island bar. While residents of Lago Mar can dip in the lagoon year-round, the hoi polloi have to satisfy themselves from spring till fall, unless, of course, they book a stay at the resort. Houston-based Project Luong has been chosen as the architect for this ambitious project, according to KHOU.
"This new resort will provide the much needed hospitality for our guests who want to spend the week at the lagoon," Lagoon Development CEO Uri Mann told KHOU, revealing the aim of catering to visitors drawn to the area by the lagoon. The resort promises to be "more than just a beautiful hotel and beach club; this resort becomes part of the fabric of the sports enthusiast local community", according to Lagoon Development President Greg Singleton during an interview with the same outlet.
Adding to the allure, local students participating in interscholastic sports can look forward to accolades with the resort announcing plans to hand out Sports Illustrated of the Year awards, they shared with KHOU. "Texas sports, especially Houston sports, are integral to this state, and we are pleased to bring this resort to such a dedicated fan base," divulged Christopher Schroeder, CEO of Sports Hospitality Ventures, in a statement obtained by Houston Business Journal.
Aside from the Texas City development, SI Resorts is casting a wider net with a resort already welcoming guests in the Dominican Republic and with other projects underway in Orlando and Tuscaloosa. The Texas City venture is poised to become a part of a 100-acre entertainment district ringing the lagoon, teeming with condos, retail and restaurant options. This move by SI Resorts not only aims to tickle the fancy of sports fans from far and wide, but it's also set to serve as an anchor, ushering in more commerce and tourism to the area.
