Tuscaloosa's first Embassy Suites opened the doors to its eight floor, 154-suite hotel this week, giving visitors a full-service destination right in the heart of downtown. 

The $31-million hotel boasts all of the top amenities, such as WiFi, 42-inch flat screen TVs, indoor pool, and a 24-hour gym. Guests can even enjoy a rooftop bar or eat at the on-site restaurant, Side by Side, which is run by James Beard Award winner Chris Hastings and his team.

"Tuscaloosa hasn't seen a full-service, premium hotel like ours," the hotel's general manager Jon Crisp said in a statement. "Whether traveling on business, for a big game at University of Alabama or to tour local attractions, guests will appreciate the fantastic amenities and culinary offerings at Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa Downtown, AL."

Unfortunately, if you haven't already booked your room for any of the seven Alabama football home contests, you'll have to wait until next year to enjoy a game weekend at Embassy Suites. You read that correctly. I tried booking a Friday-Sunday room on the same week the hotel opened - six months before the season - and got this message every time.

Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa
loading...

That's the LSU weekend. But it was no different for the late-September meeting with Louisiana-Monroe or the Homecoming game against Charleston Southern in November.

Hopefully you didn't have your heart set on a stay at the newest hotel in Tuscaloosa. There's always the chance you'll stumble upon a vacancy if someone cancels, but you might have a better chance at finding face value tickets for the Iron Bowl.

More From Praise 93.3