Sports Illustrated Resorts Case Yields Preliminary Win for Tribe

Oct. 8, 2025, 9:04 PM UTC

A group of hotel executives partially lost their bid Wednesday to escape self-dealing claims lodged by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians over their joint venture to develop a Sports Illustrated-themed resort chain.

Delaware Vice Chancellor Lori W. Will let the lawsuit advance with allegations that Experiential Ventures LLC and its principals used a “messy web” of shell entities and “intentionally confusing” ledger entries to conceal funds they steered away from the hospitality enterprise.

The pattern of blown deadlines and late payments allegedly led a unit of marketing giant Authentic Brands Group Inc. to yank the Sports Illustrated license.

The ...

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