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LeBron James’ Hollywood ambitions are getting a major financial alley-oop.

James’ entertainment firm, the SpringHill Co., has secured a private equity-led investment to fuel the Los Angeles Lakers star’s growth in film, TV, video games, consumer products and live events.

SpringHill said Thursday that it has made a deal for a group led by New York-based RedBird Capital Partners to acquire a significant minority stake in the company, known for shows including “The Shop” on HBO and the recent Warner Bros. film “Space Jam: A New Legacy.”

Participants in the deal include Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group, apparel brand Nike and “Fortnite” maker Epic Games. The deal values Los Angeles-based SpringHill at $725 million.

Other financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but people familiar with the terms said the transaction gives the RedBird-led group ownership of nearly half the company and it will put in nine figures’ worth of capital to grow the business, with the potential for more money later. James, who serves as the company’s chairman, and Chief Executive Maverick Carter will still have a controlling stake.

Carter, a longtime friend of James from their Akron, Ohio, days who has managed the star’s business dealings for years, said the capital infusion will enable SpringHill to produce more of its own content, invest in new intellectual property and acquire other firms, including production companies.

“We’ll be able to finance our own projects,” Carter said over Zoom. “We’re going to build up our physical production arm so we’ll be able to finance and control the production of the things we make, so when we talk about empowering creators, we can really leave creators in control.”

March 29, 2019

The company expects to surpass $100 million in revenue during the next 12 months, Carter said, up 67% compared with the last 12 months, when SpringHill generated about $60 million in sales.

Last year, Carter and James raised $100 million for SpringHill from investors including Sister, the production company of Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone, and Guggenheim Partners.

The SpringHill deal is the latest high-profile production company investment amid a gold rush for content in the entertainment industry. Media companies have been hungry for content to build streaming services with fresh shows and movies.

Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, the entity behind “Big Little Lies,” in August received a majority investment from the firm formed by ex-Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and private equity giant Blackstone, valuing the firm at more than $900 million. Amazon is trying to acquire James Bond producer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for $8.45 billion, pending regulatory approval.

“Moonlight” producer A24 and “Dune” studio Legendary Entertainment have all been subjects of recent deal speculation.

SpringHill was a logical fit for RedBird Capital, founded in 2014 by former Goldman Sachs partner Gerry Cardinale, who has known Carter and James for more than a decade.

RedBird is heavily invested in sports and entertainment, with a portfolio that includes investments in YES Network, the regional sports network of the New York Yankees; David Ellison’s Skydance Media; and XFL, which it owns with Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson. RedBird is also a shareholder in Fenway Sports Group, which in addition to the Red Sox owns the Liverpool Football Club and Boston’s Fenway Park. James and Carter became partners in Fenway earlier this year.

SpringHill has been entertaining deal talks since at least July, when the Information first reported that investors were circling. Fenway was in deal talks with SpringHill when it brought Cardinale to the table, Carter said. Cardinale quickly saw the potential to build SpringHill’s business, and a deal came together in just a couple months.

“The goal is to create a multibillion-dollar diversified culture and content company, and I think that puts it in a pretty unique position,” said Cardinale, founder and managing partner at RedBird. “It’s not just capital; it’s listening to Maverick and LeBron in terms of what they want to build, where they’ve taken the company from a standing start to today, and then saying what the potential trajectory is.”

The pact is the latest boost for SpringHill, which was already one of the best known of a handful of content companies launched by sports stars.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry has Unanimous Media and Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant co-founded investment and media company Thirty Five Ventures. Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant presides over Granity Studios, the production company created by the late Lakers great and Oscar winner.

The RedBird deal opens the door to expand SpringHill’s slate of films, shows and documentaries, as well as building its business of consumer products and branding. It builds on an existing relationship with Nike, which inked a seven-year $90-million endorsement deal with James when he was 18, making him the NBA’s highest-paid player.

Epic will work with SpringHill to create new experiences using the company’s brands. James earlier this year appeared in the popular shooter game “Fortnite.” SpringHill will also be able to work with Fenway to create original content about its teams and venues.

Additionally, the deal raises the prospect of SpringHill working with other companies in RedBird’s stable, including XFL and Skydance, known for productions such as Apple TV+’s “Foundation” series and Netflix’s action film “The Old Guard.”

“The way I invest, I’m always looking at that connectivity with the different companies I have investments with,” Cardinale said. “You should expect us to lean into that across the board.”

SpringHill’s lineup includes a reboot of the comedy film “House Party” for streaming service HBO Max. The company last year left its pact with Warner Bros. for a first-look deal with Comcast Corp.’s Universal Pictures. Universal released the 2015 Amy Schumer comedy “Trainwreck,” in which James played a memorable supporting role.

Carter has big ambitions for SpringHill, seeing its potential as much more than a vehicle for James’ off-court career.

“We’ll be able to fund and build out our own IP — it’s aspirational — but much in the way that Disney does,” Carter said. “It’s aspirational, it’s arrogant. But arrogant aspiration is what leads to things getting built.”

DIXIE INN – At 11 a.m. Monday, May 23, 15 members of the 1972 Springhill Lumberjacks celebrated their 50th class reunion, along with two spouses and a friend, at Dorcheat Seafood and Grill in Dixie Inn on the actual day of graduation.

The classmates included Barry Barnard and his wife, Lane, of Shongaloo, Reggie Barker of Welcome, Ark., Dennis Beavers and Annie of Conway, Ark., Gary Pearson of Texas, Sammy Stanford of Springhill, Janet Sexton Baker of Cotton Valley, Kathy Foreman Tuminello of Benton, Patty Cox of Shreveport, Sherri Dyer Huggins of Bossier City, Freda Dunn Jones of Sarepta, Brenda Oswalt Kirkley and her husband, Randy, of Camden, Ark., Vickie Collier Beshea of Sarepta, Debbie Brown Rader of Springhill, Dianne Dunn Rogers of Cullen and Cindy Kauffman Richardson of rural Sarepta.

Everyone enjoyed a variety of fried fish filets, fried butterfly shrimp, crawfish etouffee, etc., with a full salad bar with their bean soup and hushpuppies. I don’t believe anyone considered a dessert or an appetizer.

Before the meal, I stood and welcomed everyone and Debbie Rader followed with blessing our meal. A program was distributed with a list of our deceased classmates, which was read to the group. The names were written on labels and attached to the strings of our balloons to be released outside following our lunch.

The deceased names gathered, with a lot of help from others including our classmate, Debra Miles-McCauley, from Birmingham, Ala., included the following:

Calvin Clifton Bagwell, Darrell Baker, Kathy Baker Wesson, Susan Baker Tate, our Queen Guinevere in our Senior Play, “Camelot”, Sharon Bandy Smith, Ruth Barham, James Barnes, Jr., James Beene, Roy Bonner, Karen Elaine Brantley, R.L. “Raleigh” Bridges, Ronnie Brown, Wanda Brown Maxey, Ricky Carroll, Johnny Conville, Jimmy Farrington, Billy Gibson, Jim Gore, Ricky Griggs, James Harris, Greg Haynes, Susan Holmes Hudgeons, Teddy Madden, Gloria Manning, Ruth McConnell, Ted Miller, Christen Moore-Decker, Gloria Jean Oliver, Gary Pickett, James Rader, Carolyn Rhymes Rivers, Johnny Robinson, Gaylon Wayne Sanders, Kilroy Scott, Jacy Shockley, Tommy Slack, our King Arthur in “Camelot”, Allen Sterling, Donna Taylor Smith, and Gloria Washington.

These next five classmates did not graduate with us because they got married and did not return to school:

Jeanie Keene Miller, Kay Martin Roper, Debbie Ragus Fields, Rita Sewell Vaughan, and Karen Tripp Cottrell.

As everyone enjoyed their meal, our yearbooks were passed around to be signed again…50 years later! What fun it was to sit and read these that evening in the quietness of our own homes!

Prizes were given for the one who traveled the farthest and the oldest: Dennis Beavers traveled farther and Barry Barnard is our oldest…if Billy Wayne Thurman had attended, he is our oldest classmate!

After we finished our meal, we exited the restaurant and gathered outside. As I released the balloons, they began singing our Alma Mater! It was a beautiful sound as the balloons slowly faded out of sight…without hitting any powerlines. It was the most comforting way to end a wonderful gathering of classmates!

Randy Kirkley was burdened with about seven phones taking a group picture or more with each phone! Bless his heart for undertaking this mission of kindness and patience.

At homecoming each year, the classmates from the previous years ending in that number walk across the field. This year, all “2s” are recognized and honored! So we hope to gather and see you all before 6 p.m. at homecoming in October!

New jobs by way of a new Dual-Branded SpringHill Suites & TownePlace Suites By Marriott hotel is on track for Shreveport.

Larry Williams, president of Orchid Global Hotels out of Frisco, Texas, made a presentation to the Shreveport City Council Tuesday about his company’s plan to build on the site of the former Wyndham Garden Hotel at 1419 E. 70th St.

“We have 11 new hotels primarily in the western U.S., currently under development; five of those are currently under construction," Williams said. "We have those openings scheduled for the second quarter of next year and then they are basically stair-stepped throughout 2022.”

Williams added that his company is not just building the hotels; they own, manage, and operate them as well.

“Our commitment is to be part of each community where we have a hotel,” Williams said.

Orchid Global purchased the Wyndham Garden Hotel in April and was approved about two weeks ago by Marriott International to build the dual-branded hotel.

“You do not see many dual-branded hotels anymore," Williams said. "So, essentially, we are going to be putting into that hotel, a SpringHill Suites by Marriott and TownePlace Suites."

TownePlace Suites will have 117 rooms on the top three floors and SpringHill Suites will have 90 rooms on the lower floors.

A 6,000 square-foot Boston Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar is also part of the plan.

Work on the hotel right now is in the demolition phase where a lot of the old furniture is being removed along with carpeting, flooring, and other materials. Once that’s complete, the second phase of demolition will take place and then construction.

“We started June 22, we hope to try and have the hotel open by July of 2021,” Williams said. “It’s kind of an ambitious course, but we feel it's achievable.”

Williams referred to the site as a great location which he said helped in the decision process. The site is across from Whole Foods and other shopping plazas and is heavily trafficked, he added.

The new hotel will retain the current footprint and will have 207 rooms and a large convention space of about 8,000 square feet. Williams said parking space will be reduced to accommodate the number of rooms.

“We plan to submit our drawings to Marriott within the next two weeks,” Williams said, adding the hotel will retain as much of the Louisiana flavor as possible and will include upgraded outdoor space and the existing swimming pool.

Guests will check-in at one front desk. SpringHill Suites is the higher end brand of the two. TownPlace Suites have complete kitchens and is designed for a longer stay, versus SpringHill, which is designed for shorter stays.

Management

Former Wyndham Hotel manager La' Keshia Holden was brought on as general manager of the new hotel.

“We were so impressed by her that when we bought the hotel, we put her in place for the new hotel,” Williams said of Holden “She’s working there right now helping to get the old hotel demolished and then brought back to life.”

Shreveport City Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor also spoke highly of Holden.

Holden told The Times Thursday, “It’s definitely an honor and privilege that they looked at my resume and saw my capabilities and wanted to keep me as part of the team to be able to take this property, which is such a big part of Shreveport, to the next phase. I love this property the way that Shreveport loves this property.”

The new hotel is expected to generate about 40 to 60 full and part-time jobs with the majority being full-time starting at about $12 per hour and up. A number of those jobs will be supervisory and management level positions.

As for job screenings that are expected to start the first of next year, Holden said it will be a shared process between herself and Williams.

“We do have a lot of employees that have invested 30 plus years to this property and, fingers crossed, we’ll be able to bring those people back. Shreveport’s economy needs this,'' she said.

“We’ve got a lot of markets right now that are really coming back strong,” Williams said. “I really look for people’s confidence to come back and start traveling more. I’m a very optimistic person and I do think we will recover.”

There was some debate between Shreveport Councilmen Grayson Boucher and John Nickelson as to whose district the new hotel is located.

“I’m excited because we’ve got a building that could have possibly turned into an eye-sore and y'all are going in and making it something we can all be proud of in Shreveport,” Boucher said during the meeting on Tuesday.

Nickelson told The Times via email Thursday, “I am excited about Orchid Global Hotels' $30 million investment in our community, and I am confident its new Shreveport hotel will be a great success.”

The hotel is expected to generate about $8 million in annual revenue, Williams said.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins thanked Williams for his investment in Shreveport.

“Shreveport, like a lot of cites around the country, has gone through a lot economically so to hear about this investment and what the future holds for your hotel is a breath of fresh air for us,'' Perkins said.

Some days, it can seem like the world has gone crazy. Then, you see a story like this about two teenage workers at Brookshire's Grocery Store in Springhill, LA, and you realize the world isn't so bad after all!

This incredible story about two local teenagers comes to us thanks to Casey Warford. Casey sent me the link to the Facebook post that you'll see below from Jessica Bailey Glass, who witnessed a random act of kindness the other day at her local grocery store. It seems that a middle age woman was checking out and was a little short on cash. Without pause, both the bagger and the checker reached into their own pockets to make up the difference. That would be pretty amazing all on it's own, but these two kind hearted individuals were teenagers. Clearly, they've been raised right. Check out the post from Jessica below.

Pretty amazing, right? Don't you wish that we as a society would share more stories like this on social media than picking fights with strangers over issues we have no control over? I know I do. Hats off to these two young adults. I hope that your kindness is returned tenfold!

Do you know the story behind the 100-year-old crater in Shongaloo, LA?

10 Funniest Town Names in Louisiana

Bawcomville

This metropolis is locating near West Monroe. I think it's funny because I read the name as "baw-come-ville". And they're home to the "Bawcomville Redneck Christmas Parade". Does that not sound epic?!

Google Maps

Belcher

And because "Burp" was taken, we present Belcher, located in the very northwest portion of the state. 263 gaseous people call this place home.

Google Maps

Coon

I really couldn't find much about Coon. I believe it's located on the Atchafalaya River and there's a Coon Rd there. But the name alone is worth inclusion on this list.

Google Maps

Coochie

I just saw it on the map. The locale didn't even register in the latest census. Let's just move on...

Google Maps

Grosse Tete

Most of us know about Grosse Tete, which is French for "big head". The Grosse Tete exit is that quick stop after you exit the basin bridge.

Google Maps

Jigger

This town is named after a local man who would, upon request, dance a jig. It was his childhood nickname, but when he grew up, his nickname got changed to Punchin. However, by that time the town name had already stuck.

Google Maps

Kickapoo

Actually this community is named after Algonquian-speaking Native Americans who inhabited the area. It means "stand here and there", which may have referred to the tribes' migratory problems. But it's still pretty darn silly to say.

Google Maps

Mowata

On your way from Crowley to Eunice, you might just stop at the Mowata Store, next to the church and baseball field. And yep, that's about all that is there, other than a lot rice fields. But the name rocks!

Google Maps

Shongaloo

Located near the Arkansas border in NW Louisiana, Shongaloo means "running water" or "cypress tree". Oh, and they have a civic center and an adjacent museum.

Richard Palmisano via YouTube

Waggaman

This is just a fun name to say. It was a real dude's last name, as in U.S. Senator George Augustus Waggaman (1782-1843). It's located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River and a little over 10,000 people live here.

Read More: Louisiana Restaurants Featured on 'Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives'

Brett Thomas via YouTube

Sammy's Food Service & Deli - 3000 Elysian Fields, New Orleans

Ever had a killer Thanksgiving meal, Mardi Gras style? Well, you can have it here. A flavor of New Orleans is in every bite of their turkey loaded with oyster stuffing. Oh, and don't leave without trying the pumpkin bread pudding.

Google Maps

Red's Chinese - 3048 St Claude Ave, New Orleans

Red's brings New Orleans flavor to Chinese food with crawfish-filled fried wontons, tingly MaPo Dauphine with tofu, and Bywater Eggplant, spiced with gochujang.

PieceOfMeatButcher.com

Piece of Meat - 3301 Bienville Street, New Orleans

A full-service butcher shop and restaurant, they're known for adding their own twist to local favorites. To make their Boudin Egg Rolls, they wrap house-made boudin sausage around pepper jack cheese and then roll it into wonton paper and deep fry it. "That wrecks boudin for me from now on," said Guy. "You take things that people love and you show them how great it could have been for all these years."

TurkeyAndTheWolf.com

Turkey and the Wolf -739 Jackson Ave, New Orleans

Owner/chef Mason Hereford is the king of making crazy, off-the-wall cuisine feel familiar. He makes homemade cheese for the Hog's Head Tacos and also whips up a delicious vegetarian Collard Green Reuben.

Marjie's Grill, Instagram

Marjie's Grill - 320 S Broad Ave, New Orleans

If you want a marriage of Southeast Asian with New Orleans influences, then Marjie's Grill is your kind of place. They combine local ingredients with Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian spices. "You know what you're doing," said Guy after trying their Honey Butter Yardbird and Crispy Pork Knuckles.

Google Maps

Bourrée - 1510 South Carrollton Ave, New Orleans

Guy headed to this Cajun smoke house for a spot-on taste of New Orleans. One of the faves was their flaky hot sausage meat pies which feature a rockin' house-made poblano ranch. The beef tallow fries are also "stupid good," according to Guy.

instagranna, Instagram

Casamento's - 4330 Magazine St, New Orleans

Do you like oysters? Of course you do, you're reading this. Casamento's serves up crispy fried oysters on soft (not crusty) white bread. It's the restaurant's most popular dish.

Brugh Foster

The Joint - 701 Mazant St, New Orleans

Everything here comes out of the smoker. And it's good good! From racks of ribs, pork butt and brisket sandwiches to Cajun sausage and even salad dressing. Guy calls their special North Carolina-style sauce, made with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, pepper and cayenne, "an orchestra of flavor."

SurreysNOLA.com

Surrey's Cafe & Juice Bar - 1418 Magazine St, New Orleans

Guy made his first bagel here. All of their bagels are handmade and go great with handmade lox or one of Surrey's fresh-squeezed juices. They've got the classics too, with their own twist, like boudin that's packed with savory andouille.

Joey K's Restaurant & Bar, Facebook

Joey K's Restaurant & Bar - 3001 Magazine St, New Orleans

Joey K's is a family-owned eatery in a century-old building. It's the place to go for "a real taste of Louisiana soul food." Some of the menu highlights include the popular Shrimp Magazine along with classics like Red Beans and Rice, Fried Oysters and Jambalaya.

The Creole Creamery, Facebook

The Creole Creamery - 4924 Prytania St, New Orleans

Head Chef Bryan Gilmore is a wizard and he's concocted over 400 flavors of ice cream. Try Lavender Honey-flavored ice cream or perhaps Sweet Potato Sassafras Praline.

The Rivershack Tavern, Facebook

The Rivershack Tavern - 3449 River Rd, Jefferson

Classically trained chef Mike Baskind does all the basics like burgers and poboys. He is also known for daily specials including Turtle Soup, Rabbit with Spaetzle and more great dishes.

Parasol's Bar and Restaurant, Facebook

Parasol's Bar and Restaurant - 2533 Constance St, New Orleans

Everything made is here is done with tender loving care. Guy quickly learned that meant poboys stuffed with "capital-T tender" roast beef and delicious muffaletta sandwiches.

Katie's Restaurant, Facebook

Katie's Restaurant - 3701 Iberville St, New Orleans

Located in Mid-City, Katie's is known for top-notch local cuisine. They have a seafood sandwich so big it's known as "The Barge." When Guy Fieri visited, he couldn't help but praise their handmade pizza topped with Cajun pork.

mahonyspoboys, Instagram

Mahony's Po-Boy Shop - 3454 Magazine St, New Orleans

At Mahony's, they make poboys 22 different ways. Guy chowed down on the Peace Maker, a poboy stuffed with fried oysters, bacon and cheddar. And for dessert, he enjoyed a slice of the sweet potato crunch pie.

Citizen Pictures

Avery's on Tulane - 2510 Tulane Ave, New Orleans

Husband and wife team Justin and Christy Pitard are putting their twists on local favorites. A highlight is the Oysters Rockefeller Poboy, made with crispy fried oysters and creamy spinach sauce on a garlic-butter baguette. "That is gangster," raved Guy. He was also a big fan of the Fried Potato Salad, saying, "I am officially, 100% ripping that off."

Seither's Seafood, Facebook

Seither's Seafood - 279 Hickory Ave, New Orleans

Chef and owner Jason Seither grew up on the bayou and loves taking local, old school ingredients and adding his own wild style to the dishes. The Volcano is like an upside-down Asian-style taco salad with fresh ahi, crab salad and shrimp. The Totem Pole is a towering dish of crab stuffing, crispy soft-shell crab, fried eggplant and a shrimp kabob.

La. Pines Cafe, Facebook

La. Pines Cafe - 1061 Robert Rd, Slidell

Chef Jim Vandenburg delivers good old Louisiana comfort food. When Guy chomped down on the smoked prime rib poboy drenched in au jus and smothered with horseradish, he exclaimed, "Angels were singing." Regulars love their Cajun corn pudding and smoked rib plate as well.

Read More: Biggest Box Office Movies Filmed in Shreveport

Fox Films

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

$180 Million

Sony Pictures

Click

$137 Million

Battle Los Angeles

$83.6 Million

The Guardian

$55 Million

Premonition

$47.9 Million

Sony Pictures

Year One

$43.3 Million

Lionsgate Films

Snitch

$42.9 Million

Universal Pictures

Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins

$42.2 Million

Overture Films

Righteous Kill

$40.1 Million

New Line Cinema

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

$38.1 Million

20th Century Fox

Vampires Suck

$36.7 Million

SPRINGHILL, La. (KSLA) - The Office of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal has completed an investigation into a fire that left one northwest Louisiana man dead.

The Springhill Fire Department was notified around 5:30 a.m on Saturday, July 2 to a house fire located in the 100 block of 14th Street. A woman in the home during the fire ran to the nearby station to get help.

She told crews that a man was in the back room of the home. That’s where crews found his body.

Authorities have yet to release the man’s identity — but believe it is the 54-year-old homeowner.

Deputies were able to determine the fire began in the back room and was accidental, according to a news release. It was learned that he was reloading ammunition when the fire began.

Witnesses told authorities that the fire turned into an explosion as the woman was trying to escape. She was not injured.

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