Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Start of $150M Sports Illustrated Resort in Alabama
Travel + Leisure Co. and Sports Illustrated Resorts have officially begun construction on a landmark $150 million resort in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This marks the first-ever ground-up collegiate Sports Illustrated Resort in the United States. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on May 27, 2026, along Rice Mine Road near the Black Warrior River, just one mile from the University of Alabama campus. The event drew community leaders, former athletes, and city officials.
The resort is being developed by Travel + Leisure Co. under a license from Authentic Brands Group. The project features two six-story towers: the first with 75 whole-ownership condominiums and the second with 86 vacation ownership units. These towers are connected by a central lobby.
The resort will also offer a variety of amenities including:
- Retail spaces
- Indoor and outdoor bars
- A game lounge
- A coffee bar
- Rooftop event spaces
- Stadium-style watch party seating inspired by Alabama’s iconic game-day culture
Doster Construction will serve as the general contractor, and the resort is expected to open in 2028. City officials believe this development will transform Tuscaloosa from a football town into a year-round tourism destination. The project is also projected to create 1,100 construction jobs and 120 permanent jobs.
Other announced Sports Illustrated Resorts locations include Baton Rouge, Nashville, and Chicago. However, Tuscaloosa stands as the brand’s first collegiate ground-up development.
Source: Doster Construction – Sports Illustrated Resorts Tuscaloosa Groundbreaking