GOKONGWEI-LED ROBINSONS Land Corp. (RLC) has launched a sports and leisure business unit aimed at expanding the use of its commercial properties by introducing recreational facilities and entertainment venues across its portfolio.
The listed property developer said Robinsons Sports and Leisure (RSL) will focus on repurposing existing spaces in its developments for fitness, sports, and live entertainment activities.
“The simple answer to that is really it’s enhancing the customer offerings,” RLC President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Socorro Isabelle V. Aragon-GoBio said during a media roundtable on Tuesday.
“For offices, we’re reconverting, repurposing rooftop areas in our office buildings or carving out spaces for our sports and leisure facilities to provide our tenants and employees additional experiences,” she added.
Ms. Aragon-GoBio said the new business unit is intended to complement RLC’s existing property portfolio by introducing recreational offerings for tenants, employees, and visitors.
She said the company would take a measured approach to expanding the business rather than prioritize the number or size of its facilities.
“For us, it’s really not so much about scale, be it in terms of size or value. It’s in our DNA to grow responsibly, to scale responsibly.”
RSL Business Unit General Manager Ramon S. Rivero said the company would consider community participation alongside financial sustainability in assessing the business unit’s performance.
“Different business units measure success in square meters of footprint, but for me, I want our group to be measured in the human moments that we create. We want to do things very well for the community and to properly grow it responsibly. Don’t get me wrong, growth is important and it’s very admirable. But we want to grow it correctly [and] properly,” he said.
Mr. Rivero said RSL is also pursuing partnerships with local government units and sports organizations to support community sports programs and international competitions.
He cited the business unit’s sponsorship of the Leyte-based Laos Football Club’s participation in the Norway Cup as an example of these initiatives.
EXPANSION PLANS
RSL plans to launch Helios Beta, a 14-court pickleball facility at RLC’s Bridgetowne estate, which will be operated by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC).
The facility is scheduled to host the PPA Asia 500 Manila Open in 2027.
RLC is also jointly developing a separate 25-court Helios Pickleball Center at Bridgetowne with KAVC, with professional pickleball players Collin Johns and Ben Johns serving as design consultants.
The company is planning additional pickleball facilities at selected Robinsons malls and office buildings, although it has yet to identify the locations or provide a timetable for their development.
RSL also plans to open the 1,850-seat NUSTAR Grand Theater in Cebu by 2028 as part of its expansion into live entertainment.
Mr. Rivero said the business unit is exploring other recreational offerings, including golf simulators, padel courts, and hybrid fitness events, in Cebu, Davao, and Sierra Valley in Rizal.
RLC did not disclose the planned investment for the new business unit or its expected contribution to the company’s revenue.
Shares in RLC rose by 1%, or 16 centavos, to close at P16.20 apiece on Tuesday. — Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales