Best Western Plus is slated for Gateway Sports Village in Grandview

A Best Western Plus will be the first of three hotel concepts for the $234 million Gateway Sports Village project underway in Grandview.

Gateway Sports Village, a development by a venture involving former Kansas City Chief Deron Cherry, announced Tuesday that it will partner with Liberty Hotel Group, a hospitality development company led by Larry Patel.

Gateway Sports Village, touted as the largest economic development in Grandview’s history, is a 200-acre project along Missouri 150 between Byars and Kelley roads. It will have 14 turf soccer fields and 1 million square feet of office, retail and entertainment space.

The project’s developers expect to open the soccer fields in spring 2017, at which time construction will begin on the first of the two hotels.

“It is very gratifying to create this strategic partnership with Liberty Hotel Group,” said Cherry in a statement. “Our vision has been to develop a one-stop destination for soccer and sports’ families. Hotels are an integral part of that vision, and Liberty operates quality hotels that will serve our soccer and sports’ visitors well.”

Liberty Hotel Group has first right of refusal to develop the two other hotel sites, which will commence construction as demand and the profile of Gateway Sports Village grows. In all, developers expect that 450 total hotel rooms will eventually open at the project.

This story was originally published July 26, 2016 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Best Western Plus is slated for Gateway Sports Village in Grandview."