Van Andel Arena
| "The Freezer on Fulton" | |
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| Location | 130 West Fulton Street Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
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| Coordinates | 42°57′44″N 85°40′19″W / 42.96222°N 85.67194°WCoordinates: 42°57′44″N 85°40′19″W / 42.96222°N 85.67194°W |
| Owner | Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority |
| Operator | SMG |
| Capacity |
Ice Hockey: 10,834 Arena Football: 10,618 Basketball: 11,500 Concerts: 13,184 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 8, 1995 |
| Opened | October 8, 1996 |
| Construction cost |
$77 million ($118 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Rossetti Architects |
| Structural engineer | McClurg & Associates, Inc. |
| Services engineer | URS Greiner, Inc./Henderson |
| General contractor | Hunt/Erhardt Joint Venture |
| Tenants | |
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Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) (1996–present) Grand Rapids Hoops (CBA) (1996–2001) Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) (1998–2008) |
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Van Andel Arena is a 10,834-seat multi-purpose arena, situated in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. After a $75 million construction effort, the arena opened on October 8, 1996, and since has attracted over five million patrons. It is home to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, the top minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. It was also the home court of the now defunct Grand Rapids Hoops of the Continental Basketball Association from 1996 to 2001 and the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League from 1998 to 2008.
As a concert venue, the Van Andel Arena seats 12,858 for end-stage shows, and 13,184 for center-stage shows. The arena floor measures 85 by 220 feet (26 m × 67 m) and features 9,886 permanent seats, of which 1,800 are club seats and 44 luxury suites, with the 16 luxury suites in the upper bowl seating 20 each, and the lower 24 bowls seating 15, and the others at 18. In addition, there are 1,298 retractable seats.
The original estimated cost to build the arena was at $75 million.
The 12,000-seat arena is managed by SMG Property Management. It was named in recognition of the largest benefactors, Jay and Betty Van Andel.
It has been hosts to acts such as Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Aerosmith, Ariana Grande, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Roger Waters, The Who, Kiss, Rush, Marilyn Manson, Kenny Chesney, OneRepublic, The Harlem Globetrotters, World Wrestling Entertainment, Disney on Ice, NCAA Hockey Regional Championships, the AFL ArenaBowl XV game, and basketball exhibition games for the Detroit Pistons, Michigan State University Basketball & Grand Valley State University.
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Wikipedia