Huntsville Stadium Commons on track for 2026 debut, but hotel delayed
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Hattie B's Hot Chicken is the first tenant announced for Stadium Commons. Photo: Courtesy of Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate
Stadium Commons, the under-construction mixed-use development at Joe Davis Stadium in South Huntsville, is steadily taking shape, while the dual-branded hotel next door has been delayed.
Why it matters: The highly anticipated $145 million, 18-acre development is continuing the trend of investment in the area, following work at Joe Davis Stadium and John Hunt Park as the city seeks to raise its sports tourism profile to the national level.
Case in point: The American Youth Soccer Organization announced Friday that it's bringing its National Games to Huntsville in 2027, when it will "take over all the fields," per an announcement from the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
- "Huntsville's facilities are top-notch and give our families the opportunity to have a memorable experience during the games," Doug Ryan, AYSO president, said in the announcement.
💠Thought bubble: It's also giving South Huntsville residents like me more options close to home.
Zoom in: Stadium Commons' $35.2 million Phase I, which includes 67,000-plus square feet of construction and a four-story parking garage, is set for completion in the third quarter of this year for core and shell work, according to information from contractor Brasfield & Gorrie.
- The Huntsville City Council approved the development agreement with Parkway Vesta LLC in 2023, banking on almost $32.5 million in new taxes generated and a 10-year return on investment of nearly $22 million.
Catch up quick: So far, the only tenant announcement has been Hattie B's Hot Chicken, a Nashville-based restaurant that will be opening this year in a 3,000-square-foot retail location. Other tenants are set to open in early 2026, per Brasfield & Gorrie.
- Alongside the parking deck, three phases of construction include a 100-room hotel, 70,000 square feet of retail space, 25,000 square feet of office space, and 200 multifamily units. Full completion is scheduled for July 2026.
State of play: Separate from Stadium Commons, but located on four acres adjacent to both it and Joe Davis Stadium, is a planned 200-room dual-branded Hilton hotel first approved by the Huntsville City Council in November 2023 that's now delayed by nine months.
Driving the news: At its June 12 meeting, the council amended the agreement with Wisconsin-based BREG HSV LLC to move the required completion date from March 31, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026.
Context: Shane Davis, Huntsville's director of urban and economic development, told the council the change was due to a back-and-forth on which Hilton product would be built. The plan is now for Hilton's newest brand, LivSmart Studios, to join the Tru by Hilton instead of its Home2 Suites brand.