The mirror balls are hung and the large screens are in place as workers, with a little less than a week to go before grand opening, are frantically putting the finishing touches on Swoopes 22 Sports Bar & Nightclub.

"I want this club to be a place that will be comfortable for women in particular," said Sheryl Swoopes, basketball legend and out lesbian. "So many clubs have a younger crowd, and I want my club to be where mature, professional women can meet up with friends, relax and enjoy themselves."

Swoopes came out in an ESPN the Magazine interview in October 2005. Following her coming out announcement, Swoopes quickly associated with Olivia, a lesbian-owned vacation cruise business.

Promising to be a hot new nightspot for Houston’s GLBT community, Swoopes 22 Sports Bar & Nightclub takes its name in part from the number on Swoopes’ Houston Comets jersey. The club is designed to enhance the gay Houston nightlife and social scene, for locals and visitors alike.

Swoopes uses the term "alternative lifestyle" to describe the club, but emphasizes that it will be "straight-friendly."

The club’s cavernous 6,500-square foot interior features a warm peach tone and other color accents designed and renovated by designer Jim Bacy of J. Bacy & Associates of Dallas. Bacy described the look of the club as, "South Beach meets funky."

Bacy has teamed with Swoopes and entrepreneur Deidre Sam to open the upscale entertainment environment where, they said, people from all walks of life will feel welcome.

The large cube-shaped building stands out in its location near Chinatown, featering bright blue and sea-form green with contrasting Comets red stripe accent.

The former movie theater and one-time after-hours club is costing more than $300,000 to renovate, Bacy said. Comfortable contemporary furniture throughout, much of it custom designed, will add to the upscale ambiance the partners hope to create.

Other features of the multilevel club include state of the art technology with amenities like a sunken dance floor and a 50-foot bar designed to avoid human traffic jams. There are multiple flat screen plasma televisions, a video wall, a concert stage and video tabletop games. A special element is the customized basketball themed pool table.

Upstairs provides a private cigar lounge and Swoopes’ own VIP skybox, featuring a salt-water aquarium. Special VIP packages are available to those wanting to access those levels of the club.

While Sam said she is the "idea person" behind the club’s development, she said Swoopes is not just lending her celebrity to the venture, but has a hands-on role and is making the big decisions.

True to her nature as a basketball world champion, national champion, and collegiate champion, Swoopes said she hopes Swoopes 22 will bring together the concepts of a sports bar and a nightclub.

The club, just a few blocks from Toyota Center is designated the official pre- and post game party location for all Houston Comets home games with appetizers, prizes, and special guest appearances.

Comedian Karen Williams is scheduled to host Swoopes 22’s grand opening, scheduled May 3 to coincide with the Houston Comets’ first preseason home game.

The first 50 people to walk through the doors will receive free T-shirts, with the Product Band performing at midnight.

Though the nightlife "superstop" will feature and specialize in sports and dance-based themes, it will also have fashion shows, concert events, a variety of entertainment and will provide a venue for community events.

The opening week of the club coincides with Houston Splash weekend, and additional opening-weekend events include a "surprise celebrity appearance" on Friday.

The club then hosts the 2006 Black & White pageant and social event, a Houston Splash celebration, on Sunday.

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