Sports Illustrated resort complex on Mississippi coast gains support

A $410 million Sports Illustrated mega-resort complex could soon be coming to the Mississippi coast, after the D'Iberville City Council signaled approval for the project Tuesday night.

The development, which was first reported by the Sun Herald, will be one of the first to pair the Sports Illustrated brand, best known for its magazines, with the trappings of a luxury resort — including multiple hotels, restaurants, shops and a beach.

The planned complex, currently known as Blue Water Beach, would be located on a 78-acre patch of land directly southwest of the intersection of interstates 10 and 110 in D'Iberville. The city council voted unanimously to support the development, along with agreeing to cover some of the building and infrastructure costs through bonds.

"The most celebrated name in sports has created a one-of-a-kind lifestyle hotel, resort & entertainment experience," according to the website of Experiential Ventures Hospitality, the developer behind the Sports Illustrated concept.

Experiential Ventures CEO Christopher Schroeder said he expects people to travel to Blue Water Beach from across the region.

"One of the things about the project, it is an attraction. You know, we are doing something major down there that will bring in we believe people from a six-hour driving radius, literally," Schroeder said.

A six hour radius could include cities as far away as Houston and Atlanta. It would take less than 3 hours to drive from Jackson.

Plans for the nearly half a billion dollar complex include three hotels, themed restaurants, retail shops, venues for live music and the potential for hosting festivals. All of these pieces will surround a central 11-acre artificial lagoon, which itself features a beach. Blue Water Beach would be located about 4 miles north of the coast.