FB: Southern Athletic Association

[Ron Boerger]

I think I've mentioned it here before, but Southwestern is actively developing a 560-acre site east of campus that will also tie in with the university.  Plans include a cultural venue, an artscape, a 70-acre "eco gateway", mixed-use residential (including but not limited to student housing), a boutique hotel, and retail, ofice, and research space.  See https://www.southwestern560.com/ for more.  The City of Georgetown is listed as a strategic partner and first tenant.  According to an email from the school, the groundbreaking for the site and the city's customer service center will be held Friday, October 23rd.

Phase 1 is planned to be a 67-acre "active and walkable district with a strong sense of place and a diverse mix of uses" - 110k SF office/research, 45k SF retail, 150 multifamily homes, 110k SF hotel/conference, 38k SF entertainment venue, and 35 acres of open/park space.  That said, the only tenant announced to date (on June 10th) is the City, who plan a 75k SF center beginning construction early next year and finishing mid-2028.  It's possible other tenants will be announced before or during the groundbreaking.

And speaking of new things in Georgetown, a story published last week confirms the new "multipurpose" stadium where basically only football will be played is on schedule to open in time as (re-)planned versus Rhodes on October 24th.  A picture of the field shows construction essentially complete; stands will only be on the pressbox side, with little room for seating or standing attendees anywhere else as the field boundaries are quite tight.  There could be room to add visitor stands where the ground slopes away if desired. 

Southwestern also completed new, separate residence halls for first- and second-year students last spring, as well as a welcome center housing admissions/financial aid which opened in January.  The school has shown serious profits every year since 2018 with enrollment holding fairly steady in the 1500-1600 range (though as of 2025 had declined to 1440), a healthy endowment, and still holds a substantial amount of property in the county.   

[MCScots2013]

So, the University is getting into the development business with retail, residential and commercial leasing.  Can't foresee any challenges and headaches here...

I say this with as much sarcasm as humanly possible.  Maryville almost lost a piece of campus (Morningside Inn) when Ruby Tuesday went belly-up.
https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/news/2021/rt-lodge-lease-now-part-of-bankruptcy-proceedings/
https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/news/2021/president-coker-provides-update-on-future-of-rt-lodge/
https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/local-partnership-gains-control-of-rt-lodge-on-maryville-college-campus/article_ac4bd26c-eca1-5f3b-aad2-d61f75d22c2b.html

[Ron Boerger]

Bill Connelly's SP+ Top 772 predictions for the week:

@Berry 43.7, LaGrange 8.0
Hanover 27.2, @Maryville 16.0
Millsaps 46.4, @Centenary 11.1
@Austin 36.8, Rhodes 24.7
@Brevard 39.4, Sewanee 19.1
@TLU 33.6, Southwestern 23.3
@Trinity 40.7, McMurry 12.1

Hansen Ratings predictions:

@Berry 36.5, LaGrange 15.6
Hanover 30.1, @Maryville 12.3
Millsaps 39.4, @Centenary 16.3
Rhodes 30.4, @Austin 26.8
@Brevard 36.1, Sewanee 17.0
@TLU 38.3, Southwestern 26.3
@Trinity 36.5, McMurry 15.6