Blue Ocean, Renew Partners LLC, and JCI Contractors are pleased to announce the approval of a new 89-unit TownePlace Suites hotel on the campus of SPIRE Institute and Academy (IA), a preparatory boarding school and sports training destination in Harpersfield Township near Geneva, Ohio. With more than 750,000 sq. ft. under roof and a campus of 177 acres, SPIRE is one of the largest indoor, professional training and competition complexes in the world – integrating athletics and academics, skills and performance training, and personal and career development.

Part of the Marriott International brand, TownePlace Suites offers extended-stay lodging with full kitchens, hot breakfasts, free Wi-Fi and other amenities. According to Blue Ocean President & CEO Jonathan Ehrenfeld, the company is moving forward with next steps in the process in hopes of breaking ground later this year, and is in the final stages of securing financing for the project.

“Having a hotel on the SPIRE campus will greatly benefit students, their families, traveling athletes, and the surrounding community,” said Ehrenfeld. “We are pleased to expand the SPIRE campus in this way and bring even more opportunity to the region as a whole.”

SPIRE first opened in 2009 as the GaREAT Sports Complex. At the time, there was only one building on campus, with a synthetic turf field for soccer, football, lacrosse, etc., and a courts area that featured up to 6 basketball courts and 12 volleyball courts. In January 2010, the track and field complex was opened for athletes; a second outdoor track and field and outdoor sports complex opened in 2012. On February 23, 2013, SPIRE was declared an Olympic and Paralympic training site by the U.S. Olympic Committee, and in February 2014, SPIRE was designated as an official training site for USA Wrestling. Both designations remained in place for several years.

In January 2020, SPIRE was acquired by an affiliate of Blue Ocean. As the master developer of the 177 acre campus, Blue Ocean is in the process of completing an extensive plan to expand the SPIRE campus with a variety of other uses that will ultimately enhance its core sports training and education offerings and widen its academy, camp, club, league, clinic, event and tournament activities.

“The expansion and enhancements being made at SPIRE will increase the demand for premier hospitality services to our entire region.  We are excited to be a partner with SPIRE” comments Scott Arra, Senior Vice President of Operations at Emerald Hospitality Associates, Inc.  Emerald Hospitality Associates, Inc. is a member of the regional hospitality community and on-going hotel partner with SPIRE.

“We’re excited to work with such a wonderful development team (Blue Ocean & Renew Partners)”, said Charlie Borsukoff, President of JCI.  It’s an honor to serve as the general contractor for a hotel that will be catalytic to SPIRE, Geneva and Ashtabula County as a whole.”

Shawn Neece, of Renew Partners, stated “the Grand River Valley has so much to offer, including Lake Erie, dozens of wineries, and, of course, one of North America’s premiere sports venues, SPIRE.  We look forward to developing another great lodging option for the area.”