A $184 million riverfront amphitheater set to open in the next two years is going to be a game-changer for downtown Grand Rapids. The 12,000-seat Acrisure Amphitheater outdoor concert and event venue has been years in the making, says Kara Wood. She’s executive director of Grand Action 2.0, development leader on the project, which is expected to be up and running in 2026.
“This will be a public asset that will be expanding the venue opportunities for private rentals and meetings as well as additional venues for music and performances,” Wood explains. “It will be open to the public for utilization, and one of the things that is important to west Michigan is that we’re not missing out on some of those outdoor-specific
performances that pass by Grand Rapids when making their way across the nation.” According to Grand Action 2.0, the amphitheater is part of a larger riverfront vision that spans 31 acres along the Grand River. The development is expected to attract new restaurants, bars, retail, and housing.
Simultaneously, plans for a $175 million downtown soccer stadium that leaders hope will attract professional soccer to West Michigan are progressing on a similar timeline. “We are getting ready to complete the design-development phase of that project at this point,” Wood says. “It has just received its special land use approval from the planning commission.”
The two facilities will piggyback on the vibrancy that Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place Convention Center have generated downtown over the past few decades.
“I think these two new projects at once are going to have a profound effect on not only the region, but also the riverfront accessibility,” says Wood.
