Construction has officially begun on the $150 million Sports Illustrated Resort in Tuscaloosa, launching one of Alabama's most anticipated hospitality developments and a project expected to reshape a prominent stretch of the city's Black Warrior River waterfront.
Developers, city officials and project partners gathered May 27 for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Rice Mine Road site, marking the start of vertical construction on the mixed-use resort. According to Travel + Leisure Co., the development is expected to open before the start of the 2028 college football season and will serve as the first purpose-built collegiate-market resort under the Sports Illustrated Resorts brand.
The project combines hospitality, residential and entertainment uses in a destination designed to capitalize on Tuscaloosa's status as the home of the University of Alabama while attracting visitors throughout the year.
For the construction industry, the groundbreaking signals the beginning of a multi-year build that will employ hundreds of skilled workers and involve significant structural, civil and utility work on a highly visible riverfront parcel.
Birmingham-based Doster Construction is serving as the project's general contractor. The company joined representatives of Travel + Leisure Co., Sports Hospitality Ventures, Authentic Brands Group and city officials for the groundbreaking ceremony.
According to Doster Construction, the contractor spent months working with the ownership team during the preconstruction phase to prepare the site and coordinate construction planning before breaking ground.
Twin Towers Will Anchor Development
LJC Design & Engineering rendering
Plans call for two six-story buildings connected by a central lobby overlooking the Black Warrior River.
According to Travel + Leisure Co., one tower will contain 75 whole-ownership luxury condominiums while the second will feature 86 vacation ownership units. The development also will include retail shops, multiple food and beverage venues, indoor and outdoor bars, a game lounge, coffee bar and rooftop event space.
Additional amenities will include a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center, owners lounge with stadium-style seating for watching sporting events and a dedicated broadcast studio designed for live programming and special events.
Officials say the development is intended to function as more than a football weekend destination by providing attractions and accommodations that appeal to vacationers, business travelers and local residents throughout the year.
The architecture is designed to maximize river views while creating pedestrian connections between the resort, surrounding commercial areas and Tuscaloosa's expanding waterfront.
Construction Workforce to Grow
Construction activity is expected to accelerate significantly once structural work begins.
"As we go vertical with the buildings, we'll have upwards of around 200 people that'll be working on the development of this project," Geoff Richards, chief operating officer of Travel + Leisure Co., said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
According to WBRC-TV, construction is expected to continue through approximately 2028.
While developers have not released a detailed construction schedule, the project will require extensive site grading, underground utility installation, foundations, structural framing, mechanical and electrical systems and extensive interior finishes typical of high-end hospitality developments.
The development also will include parking facilities, landscaping, hardscape improvements and public gathering spaces integrated into the riverfront site.
Years of Planning Led to Groundbreaking
LJC Design & Engineering rendering
The groundbreaking concludes several years of planning, public review and design refinement.
Travel + Leisure first announced plans for a Sports Illustrated-branded resort in Tuscaloosa in 2023. Initial concepts generated considerable public discussion because of the project's scale and its prominent location overlooking the Black Warrior River.
According to Business Alabama, developers revised portions of the project as city officials, planners and nearby residents reviewed issues including building height, traffic circulation, parking and compatibility with neighboring properties.
The Tuscaloosa City Council ultimately approved the development after multiple rounds of review, allowing developers to move forward with final engineering, permitting and construction.
City officials have described the project as another key investment in Tuscaloosa's growing riverfront district, where public and private development has steadily expanded recreational, commercial and residential opportunities during the past decade.
Major Economic Investment
Officials believe the resort will generate economic benefits well beyond construction.
According to Travel + Leisure Co., the development is expected to create hundreds of temporary construction jobs while supporting long-term employment in hospitality, food service, retail and resort operations after opening.
Mayor Walt Maddox said the investment represents another step in diversifying Tuscaloosa's tourism economy.
According to WBRC-TV, Maddox said the development will generate new tax revenue while helping attract visitors throughout the year instead of relying primarily on University of Alabama football weekends.
Developers also expect the resort to increase demand for nearby restaurants, retail businesses and entertainment venues while complementing existing attractions along the Black Warrior River.
National Brand Expands Into Collegiate Market
The Tuscaloosa project represents a significant expansion for the Sports Illustrated Resorts brand.
The resort is being developed through a partnership involving Travel + Leisure Co., Sports Hospitality Ventures and Authentic Brands Group, which owns the Sports Illustrated brand.
According to Travel + Leisure Co., the Tuscaloosa development is the company's first newly constructed collegiate-market destination operating under the Sports Illustrated Resorts name. Unlike traditional hotels, the resort combines vacation ownership accommodations with luxury residences and entertainment amenities centered around the culture of sports.
The concept is intended to provide immersive experiences for fans while also functioning as a full-service resort destination regardless of the sports calendar.
Riverfront Construction Begins
Heavy equipment has begun mobilizing on the site as crews prepare for the next phase of construction.
Over the coming months, the project will transition from earthmoving and infrastructure installation to foundation work and eventually vertical construction of the twin six-story structures.
Once complete, the Sports Illustrated Resort will become one of the most recognizable additions to Tuscaloosa's skyline and one of the largest hospitality developments built in west Alabama in recent years.
For contractors, equipment suppliers and subcontractors, the project represents a major multi-year construction effort that will remain active through 2028 as crews transform a vacant riverfront parcel into a destination designed to serve residents and visitors for decades to come.
