Groundbreaking of $150M Sports Illustrated Resort in Alabama
Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL) has officially commenced the construction of a landmark new Sports Illustrated Resorts destination in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This $150 million mixed-use resort signifies the brand’s first ground-up development in a collegiate market. The announcement, made in late May 2026, marks an ambitious expansion of the Sports Illustrated hospitality brand into the heart of America’s college sports culture.
The resort, located on Rice Mine Road along the Black Warrior River and just a mile from the University of Alabama campus, is slated to open its doors in 2028. The ambitious development will feature:
- 75 whole-ownership condominiums
- 86 vacation ownership units
- Retail spaces
- Bars and lounges
- Rooftop event spaces
- A broadcast booth
This fully immersive fan destination aims to create hundreds of construction and long-term jobs, injecting significant economic momentum into the local Tuscaloosa economy.
Travel + Leisure Co. CEO Michael D. Brown described the groundbreaking as a pivotal step in the company’s strategy to expand into premier sports markets. The resort blends the iconic legacy of the Sports Illustrated brand with luxury hospitality, and the company has signaled that more college town destinations are planned as part of a growing national network.
Source: Business Wire – May 27, 2026