WELCOME HOME, ALUM
A New Chapter in Collegiate Living: ALUM Brings Luxury Hospitality to Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is no stranger to game day traditions, spirit and deep alumni pride. Now, a first-of-its-kind project is set to transform how University of Alabama alumni and fans experience campus life. Introducing ALUM, a branded luxury residence and private members club redefining hospitality in college towns.
Slated to open for the 2026 football season, ALUM Tuscaloosa marks the flagship location of a visionary new venture co-founded by David Vialli. The concept: a fully serviced, luxury condo/hotel offering premium accommodations with the comforts of home, paired with an exclusive club experience. Owners can stay when they visit campus, then place their unit into a managed rental pool when they’re away, generating passive income in the style of Ritz-Carlton Residences or high-end condo hotels in destination cities.
“Alum isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place where my family can make memories, where my kids can grow up loving Alabama football like I do.”
“This is about elevating collegiate city living and lodging.”
David Vialli
“Historically, people paid New York hotel rates in college towns and got a two-and-a-half-star experience,” said Vialli. “We’re flipping that on its head. This is about elevating collegiate city living and lodging.”
ALUM’s roots are firmly grounded in hospitality and real estate expertise. Vialli, a veteran of the luxury hotel industry, is blending the best of both worlds. Over four years, the concept has evolved to include not just branded residences, but also full-scale amenities: all-day food and beverage offerings, event spaces and a members-only club open to owners, renters and locals alike.
ALUM Tuscaloosa Location Map
ALUM Tuscaloosa Location Map
“As someone who travels to college towns every weekend, I’ve seen the need for something like this.”
Former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy is among the early believers.
“As someone who travels to college towns every weekend, I’ve seen the need for something like this,” McElroy said. “ALUM isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place where my family can make memories, where my kids can grow up loving Alabama football like I do.”
McElroy, who has deep ties to Tuscaloosa, is also an investor and vocal advocate for ALUM.
“Having a space where my kids are upstairs watching cartoons and I can have a quiet drink downstairs in a refined setting—that’s priceless,” he added.
Greg McElroy
“We understand what out-of-state parents and alumni are looking for.”
John Randall
Helping guide the project locally are John Randall and Jason Gray of The Gray Group, longtime Tuscaloosa residents and real estate experts with experience in alumni housing.
“We understand what out-of-state parents and alumni are looking for,” said Randall. “They want quality, convenience and a return on their investment. ALUM offers all of that without the rental limitations of standard condos in town.”
Indeed, one of ALUM’s standout features is its operational model: Owners can rent their units year-round with no restrictions, unlike many properties bound by short-term rental rules.
Jason Gray
ALUM Locations
Eugene, OR
Ann Arbor, MI
Winston-Salem, NC
College Station, TX
Beyond ownership, ALUM offers opportunities for investment and involvement. From local limited partnerships to early investor perks—including priority access to future ALUM locations nationwide—this is more than real estate; it’s a growing community of like-minded alumni and fans. “We want this to be your clubhouse,” Vialli emphasized. “The club already exists on Saturdays. We’re just building the clubhouse.”
The project is already generating buzz far beyond Tuscaloosa. Locations in Eugene, Ann Arbor, Winston-Salem and College Station are in the pipeline, with ALUM aiming to bring its hospitality-first model to passionate college communities nationwide.
As construction gets underway, Tuscaloosa alumni have a chance to be part of something new—a legacy of luxury, rooted in tradition.
Saturdays in the South are about to get an upgrade.
“The club already exists on Saturdays. We’re just building the clubhouse.”
This story is a paid advertisement. ALUM is not affiliated with The University of Alabama or the National Alumni Association.
