Then: In April, developers announced plans to bring a six-story, $60 million sports condominium hotel project to South Main Street in Blacksburg. Dubbed The Colosseum, the project promised unrivaled luxury to avid Virginia Tech sports fans willing to plunk down between $170,000 and the low $800,000s for one of its 172 units.

Now: Daryl Andrews, The Colosseum’s co-creator and equity investment partner, said in recent months that plans for the project have expanded to include 241 suites in two six-story towers. It is now expected to cost $80 million at full build-out.

Andrews said construction on the development’s first tower is set to begin in late spring and be complete by late summer 2009. The construction schedule for the second tower will be based on sales.

Thus far, Andrews said more than 2,000 people have responded with interest to the project’s Web site and almost 20 people have placed unit reservations. “We found in our discovery process here that people are looking for higher-end service,” he said.

To help with the provision of that service, Andrews said Salamander Hospitality, a management company led by BET founder Sheila Johnson, has joined the facility to run day-to-day operations.