Tuscaloosa has been chosen as the first location for the line of college town resorts being developed by Sports Illustrated and Travel + Leisure.
Every Sports Illustrated Resorts campus will feature a full-service hotel, vacation club and residential condominiums, as well as attractions including live action sports, dining, wellness and relaxation.
The Tuscaloosa resort is expected to open in late 2025.
“Sports Illustrated Resorts are about hospitality, lifestyle, leisure and entertainment where we celebrate not only the legacy of Sports Illustrated, but the path it is on now, by immersing our guests in sports culture and providing the best entertainment, cuisine, fitness, health and wellness to our guests,” said Christopher Schroeder, CEO of Sports Hospitality Ventures. “People are seeking differentiated experiences that allow them to be more active and participatory, and Sports Illustrated Resorts are delivering the ultimate experiences for guests through the hospitality destinations we are creating.”
The resort in Tuscaloosa will be across the Black Warrior River from the University of Alabama campus. Additional college town destinations will be announced soon.
“This project is a tangible demonstration of our multi-brand strategy to grow our business with new exciting partnerships,” said Michael D. Brown, president and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co. “As the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, we are uniquely positioned to be able to partner with brands and hospitality companies to develop customized vacation club products for their customers.”