Where Alma Maters Meet Alumni Luxury
A deep dive into ALUM, the first branded residence and private club platform built specifically for college-town alumni.
About
Alum Clubs Overview & Current Investment Opportunity
ALUM is building the first branded residence and alumni-focused private club platform designed for America’s most devoted college markets.
Their flagship development in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is an $88M project with 68 luxury condo-hotel units, a members club, full-service dining, and 35,000 sq. ft. of amenities, all centered around the culture of Alabama alumni and gameday fandom.
The brand blends premium hospitality with alumni identity and year-round utility:“Use it when you’re in town, cash flow it when you’re not.
The ALUM Model: Where College Pride Meets Luxury Living
Why College Towns?
College markets are one of the most underserved niches in branded real estate.br>Tuscaloosa alone offers:
- 400,000+ living Alabama alumni
- 100,000+ visitors during football weekends
- 58% of undergrads from out-of-state (high-income families)
- 14.4% annual home price growth (Dec 2024)
ALUM repackages alumni travel, gameday spending, and hospitality needs into a premium residence + rental income hybrid.
The Tuscaloosa Project
Location & Vision
Just a few walkable blocks from Bryant-Denny Stadium, designed to become the “living room” of Alabama alumni life.br>
Project Snapshot
- 68 luxury condo-hotel units (1BR, 2BR lock-offs, penthouses)
- Private members’ club
- Full-service restaurant + bar
- Outdoor pool, lounge, and event spaces
- 35,000 sq. ft. of amenities
- Riverfront location with stadium views
Dual Value Proposition
- Turnkey “second home” ownership for alumni weekends, sports events, and visits.
- Hospitality income generation when units enter the rental pool during off-use periods.
The Team
Paul Brennekebr>Co-Founder, Sortis Capitalbr>25+ years of mixed-use + hospitality development experience
David Viallibr>Co-Founderbr>Career spanning EDITION & Standard Hotels
Greg McElroybr>Advisor / Investorbr>Former Alabama QB + ESPN analyst, representing the alumni culture at the core of the brand
Supported by industry partners:br>Legends (fan engagement), Kasa (hotel operations), Harrison (design), The Gray Group (local expertise)
Key Takeaways
$89M Tuscaloosa project is underway
Debt term sheet secured; 50% of LP equity soft-circled from alumni + local investors.
Strong 365-day demand beyond football
Tuscaloosa sustains ~70% annual occupancy due to Mercedes-Benz HQ, sports events, weddings, and continuous university activity.
68 luxury condos with hospitality flexibility
Lock-off units, penthouses, and 35K sq. ft. of amenities built for both personal use and rental yield.
Premium pricing justified by location + listing rights
ALUM units launched at a 10-15% premium because owners can list 365 nights instead of the standard 35-night restrictions in the local market.
Recordings
The Alum Clubs Team
David Vialli is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at ALUM, where he oversees operations, capital-markets coordination, and pre-opening and operational oversight for the firm’s hospitality initiatives. He founded VH Hospitality Advisory, providing development support, deal structuring and hotel asset management. He previously served as Asset Manager, Hospitality at NBP Capital and led pre-openings and operations for The Hoxton, Provenance Hotels, The Standard and EDITION, overseeing OS&E/FF&E procurement, hiring and financial performance analysis.
John Robertson is a Managing Director at ALUM, where he oversees the company’s luxury residences, membership offerings and club operations. He also serves as Managing Director at Sortis Capital, focused on acquisition of senior loans collateralized by real estate. Previously he was Associate Director at CrowdStreet Advisors and held roles in equity research and private wealth at Pacific Crest Securities and Wilshire Quinn Capital. He holds a BS in Finance from Santa Clara University.
Graham Boone is a Senior Vice President and Partnerships Lead at Alum Clubs. He previously served as Executive Director at Heels4Life, where he negotiated and executed more than 100 player deals and managed the organization’s Board of Directors. He was Vice President of Partnerships at Blue Wire Podcasts, overseeing third-party branded content, client development, and talent negotiations. He holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.