Construction is now underway on the Wichita Ballpark District, the $113 million mixed-use development adjacent to Equity Bank Park in downtown Wichita’s Delano neighborhood, as EPC Real Estate Group and Murfin Inc. broke ground today on the district’s hospitality anchor, the Wichita Tribute Hotel, a 160-room Tribute Portfolio property by Marriott.
According to a news release:
The seven-story hotel will rise at the corner of S. McLean Boulevard and W. Maple Street along the Arkansas River, with a bar off the lobby overlooking the riverfront, a rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge, and dedicated meeting space. Tribute Portfolio, part of Marriott Bonvoy, comprises approximately 170 independent hotels in 35 countries, each designed around the character of its location.
“Wichita has heard about this project for a long time. Today, we’re happy to be here seeing it come to fruition,” said Austin Bradley, Executive Vice President of EPC Real Estate Group. “Construction is underway, and bringing a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel to the riverfront reflects how much we believe in downtown Wichita and the Delano neighborhood. This is a long-term commitment, and it starts now.”
“Wichita is home, and investing in the heart of it matters to us,” said Jeremy Hurt, Director of Real Estate at Murfin Inc. “We are proud to stand alongside EPC and the City of Wichita as this district takes shape.”
The groundbreaking marks the first vertical construction in a district years in the making. Beyond the hotel, the Wichita Ballpark District includes 192 residences, 10,000 square feet of street-level retail, structured parking, and improvements along the west bank of the Arkansas River. Hotel construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with the hotel targeting an early 2028 opening and the mixed-use components to follow.
The district is the product of sustained collaboration between the developers and the City of Wichita, whose partnership shaped everything from the site’s infrastructure to the parking that serves both the district and the ballpark.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks important progress for the Ballpark District, Delano, and our downtown riverfront,” said Wichita Mayor Lily Wu. “This development will bring new energy to the west bank, support the long-term success of the district, and create more opportunities for residents, visitors, and businesses to experience and invest in the heart of our city.”
The district rises directly across McLean Boulevard from Equity Bank Park, home of the Wichita Wind Surge, whose game days already bring crowds to the west bank.
“We are thrilled to see this development take such a monumental step forward, as it will contribute to the continued growth and vibrancy both around the ballpark and to the Delano District,” said Wichita Wind Surge General Manager Matt Hamilton. “This project spotlights the incredible work being done by EPC and the City of Wichita to grow downtown in a meaningful way.”
For Wichita’s visitor economy, the hotel adds something the riverfront has not had: a place to stay at the center of it.
“Every new investment in the Wichita Ballpark District is a vote of confidence in downtown Wichita’s future. The Wichita Tribute Hotel gives visitors a reason to stay right in the heart of it, steps from Equity Bank Park and the riverfront, and makes Wichita an even more compelling destination,” said Susie Santo, President & CEO of Visit Wichita.
The river itself is central to the district’s design, with the hotel’s dining and gathering spaces oriented toward the water and improvements planned along the west bank.
