Van Andel Arena

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Van Andel Arena
nickname =


fullname =
location = 130 West Fulton St.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built =
opened = October 81996
closed =
demolished =
owner = Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
operator = SMG Management
construction_cost = $75 million USD
architect = Rossetti architects
former_names =
tenants = Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) (1996-present)
Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) (1998-present)
Grand Rapids Hoops (CBA) (1996-2001)
seating_capacity = Hockey10,834
Arena Football:10,834
concert:13,184The Van Andel Arena is a 10,834-seat multi-purpose arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After a $75 million construction effort, the arena opened on October 8, 1996 and since has attracted more than five million patrons. It is home to the Grand Rapids Griffins ice hockey team, and the Grand Rapids Rampage Arena football team. It was also home court of the now defunct Grand Rapids Hoops basketball team.

As a concert venue Van Andel Arena seats 12,858 for end-stage shows, 13,184 for center-stage shows. The arena floor measures 85 feet-by-220 feet. The arena features 9,886 permanent seats and 44 luxury suites (the 16 luxury suites in the upper bowl seat 20 each, and 24 of the lower bowl suites seat 15, with the other four seating 18 each.) There are 1,298 retractable seats at Van Andel Arena.

ignificant events

According to the Grand Rapids Press, Van Andel Arena hosted an estimated 12,000 people "in what may have been the biggest free-admission event ever held in the arena," when Barack Obama held a campaign event there on May 14, 2008. [ [http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/05/seen_and_heard_obama_visits_gr.html MLive.com - Obama visits Grand Rapids] ] At the rally, John Edwards publicly endorsed Obama's campaign for the first time. [ [http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/05/obama_gets_edwards_endorsement.html MLive.com - Obama gets Edwards endorsement] ] Also AC/DC gave a concert on August 1st 2000 opening their Stiff Upper Lip Tour.

Grand River Promenade

The Grand River Promenade, the official name for the skyway, goes between the DeVos Place Convention Center and the Van Andel Arena.

External links

* [http://www.vanandelarena.com/ Official website]
* [http://griffinshockey.com/home/ Grand Rapids Griffins]
* [http://rampagefootball.com/ Grand Rapids Rampage]

References