GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After years of planning and financial gymnastics, the Acrisure Amphitheater is a few shovel digs closer to becoming more than just a rendering.
Grand Action 2.0 held a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday afternoon to mark the start of construction.
“As soon as something goes from idea to reality, it becomes very special. That’s what’s happening here today," said Dick DeVos, Co-Chair of Grand Action 2.0, the organization spearheading this effort.
During the ceremony, Carol VanAndel, a fellow Co-Chair, surprised those in attendance with brand new renderings of the future venue.
Even Greg Williams, Chairman and CEO for Acrisure, was caught by surprise.
"That was an unveil that I hadn’t seen yet. So it was pretty cool to see," he said.
It's been quite a road to get here. DeVos said the seed was first planted in 2007.
"Well, the original ideas was that some folks said we should have the amphitheater out by Millenium Park," he told FOX 17. "We didn't feel that having the amphitheater that far away from downtown would contribute in terms of the full benefit to the community."
The final version of the project will cost $184 million, but DeVos said the transformational impact will be priceless.
“I look forward to sitting in this amphitheater, looking around, and some great band that I love to listen to, thinking to myself, 'I’m in Grand Rapids, Michigan. How good is this?'"
“What band would that be?” FOX 17 asked.
“I would’ve gone with Elton John. That was my moment in the Van Andel Arena. I’ll have to think about that one," he replied.
The future Acrisure Amphitheater has received millions of dollars in funding commitments from the state and city. Buying up the properties alone cost the arena authority more than $24 million.
The Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority committed more than $20 million; the state put $30 million towards the project; and Kent County is spending $15 million. Private funding totals $70 million, including $30 million from Acrisure through a naming rights deal.
“It’s something that we wanted to be supportive of a community who’s been so supportive of us, on one hand," Williams said. "On the other hand, I mean, this is something our employees are excited about, are engaged, and hopefully a little bit inspired."
Kent County voters will also get to decide on whether to enact a higher tax rate on hotel rooms to help fund the amphitheater and other public projects. Currently, anyone who books a hotel room in Kent County pays a 5% lodging tax, but if the proposal is approved, any hotel stay under 30 days would be taxed at 8%.
That rate increase had to be signed off by state lawmakers and the governor.
Ahead the ceremony, work crews showed up bright and early this morning to continue demolition of buildings on the property. The two-year construction process will employ more than 700 workers.
When it's complete, leaders understand the area will look much different, but hope the city's character will stay the same.
“Size will hopefully come, but we can’t lose our culture, we can’t lose our soul," DeVos said. "I’m bound and determined that, no matter how big we are, Grand Rapids will always be a special place.”
Some other fun facts mentioned at Tuesday's event: The building will incorporate more than 3,100 tons of steel, more than 9,700 cubic yards of concrete and bring in more than 150,000 cubic yards of sand.
In the spring of 2026, they hope those fun facts will turn into fun memories when the amphitheater finally opens.
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