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Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway broke ground Friday, Sept. 25, on a boutique hotel it was first required to build more than a decade ago. Kansas Entertainment, a joint venture between PENN Entertainment and NASCAR, hosted the ceremony.
The hotel, called The Dotte, will carry Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio brand and is expected to open in 2028 in the Village West entertainment district.
What to know about The Dotte
The hotel will have about 140 rooms and suites and connect directly to the casino’s west entrance. According to PENN’s announcement, details about restaurants, meeting space and other amenities will come later.
Kansas Entertainment is contributing the land. Prime Group US, a South Florida real estate firm, is financing and developing the project.
Shaner Hotels, based in State College, Pennsylvania, will operate it. Shaner has invested more than $1 billion in 75 hotel properties in the United States, Italy and the Bahamas, PENN said.
Why the hotel took so long
The casino’s original development agreement with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, required a 250-room hotel. It was never built, and the casino has paid more than $21 million in penalties since, according to KCTV5. The penalty equaled 1% of the casino’s net revenue.
Lydia Garvey, the casino’s vice president and general manager, said the company never thought the requirement was workable: “We just never thought that was the right amount of rooms.” She said the casino secured an amended agreement in December 2024 with a smaller room requirement, which made the project make sense.
Permits pending, construction targeted this year
Construction has not started. Garvey said the casino is waiting on permits and hopes to begin before the end of the year.
The penalty ends once construction begins. At that point, the casino’s annual charitable contribution to the Unified Government rises from $500,000 to $850,000. The money funds the Hollywood Casino Grant Program, which supports Wyandotte County organizations.
Village West keeps growing around it
Hollywood Casino sits at Turn 2 of Kansas Speedway, which hosts NASCAR races, including the Hollywood Casino 400. Village West also includes Children’s Mercy Park, home of Sporting Kansas City, along with shopping outlets and other attractions.
A Buc-ee’s travel center is under construction nearby, and the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to open a new stadium in the district by 2031.
Garvey said the hotel’s location at Interstate 70 and Interstate 435 should draw travelers as well as casino guests. Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Christal Watson said the negotiations predate her time in office but called the project a fresh start and tied it to the area’s other development.
PENN CEO Jay Snowden described the hotel as an organic growth opportunity amid significant development around the property. Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said it will strengthen Village West and support economic development in Wyandotte County.
