The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority's board of directors unanimously voted Oct. 11 on a "mutual release agreement" and settlement between the authority and longtime CEO Janis Burke.
What happened
The vote took place at a special-called meeting of the board of directors following a conversation in executive session that lasted roughly 90 minutes. The vote results in Burke being terminated as CEO immediately.
During the meeting, board members also voted to task HCHSA chairman J. Kent Friedman with determining an acting CEO and salary.
In a statement, Friedman thanked Burke for her 18 years as CEO.
"Over her time, [Burke] has worked diligently and tirelessly not just to improve our world-class facilities but to make Houston and Harris County destinations for a wide range of marquee national and international sporting events, creating over $2 billion in economic activity for this community," he said. "Her efforts have elevated the status of our region to heights it has never been in the sports industry."
Board members did not provide further comment on the future leader of the authority at the Oct. 11 meeting.
Community Impact has reached out to Burke for comment.
Digging in
Houston Mayor John Whitmire held a news conference Oct. 11, prior to the HCHSA board meeting, to discuss the future of the authority. Whitmire said he has received several complaints from facility owners and stakeholders about collaboration issues with the sports authority.
“Organizations, franchises, you name it, all of the stakeholders that you believe that go about putting on major events and running their franchises have come to me individually, and collectively, saying, ‘We have to do something about the sports authority,’” Whitmire said. “They are away from their core mission.”
The context
HCHSA was originally created in 1997 to finance, maintain and build sports venues in Houston. However, over the years, the organization has stretched its duties to include promoting the region for sports-related events, including bringing experiences such as the Super Bowl and the NCAA Men’s Final Four to Houston.
The sports authority also had a hand in winning bids to host the World Baseball Classic and seven matches of the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
During his Oct. 11 news conference, Whitmire said Houston Dynamo owner Ted Segal has received several requests for teams to practice at Shell Energy Stadium prior to the World Cup, but has been unable to collaborate with sports authority officials on the matter.
“We can do better,” Whitmire said. “We have to get ready for the World Cup and, in the meantime, we will address the concerns of these individual franchises.”
Those in favor
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said he is in favor of the change in leadership at HCHSA.
“It’s imperative that we have new leadership at the sports authority,” he said. “The current CEO has been within the position for almost 20 years, so it’s time for some fresh voices at this very important time. I appreciate the outgoing CEO for her service, but with the World Cup approaching and the city and the county soon to be on a global stage, there has never been a more critical time for us to collectively get it right.”
Other Houston stakeholders that showed support of the change in leadership included Ryan Walsh, CEO and executive director of NRG Stadium; Michael Heckman, President of the Houston First Corporation; and HCHSA board members Linda Morales, Marty Kendrick and Laura Murillo.
Also of note
At the Oct. 11 meeting, the HCHSA also appointed two new board members recommended by Whitmire to the board—Christopher Newport and John Arnold—while reappointing Lacy Wolf and Nomaan Husain. Their terms expire in August 2026. Newport is Whitmire's chief of staff.
The 13-member board includes one chairperson and 12 directors, six of which are appointed by the mayor of Houston and Houston City Council, and six of which are appointed by the Harris County Judge and the Harris County Commissioners Court. The chairperson is jointly selected by the mayor and commissioners court with approval by Houston City Council.
