Grand Rapids amphitheater-soccer venue funding

Image: Grand Action

The group that pushed forward the plan for Grand Rapids’ (Michigan, US) new amphitheater will soon submit a request to the Kent County and the City asking for funding after the voters recently okayed increasing the county hotel excise tax.

‘woodtv.com’ stated that the ballot proposal allowing for a three percent increase to the tax passed with about 54 percent of the vote.

If successful, the new tax increase could bring in an additional $8 million in revenue annually for the City and the county. The money would be used to support projects like the amphitheater now under construction, a proposed soccer stadium on Grand Rapids’ West Side and a possible aquarium.

Grand Rapids, Michigan (US) is constructing the $184 million Acrisure Amphitheater, a 12,000-seat venue on the downtown riverfront. The project broke ground in May 2024 and is expected to be finished by Spring 2026. The amphitheater is part of a community vision to enhance the City’s quality of life, strengthen the local economy and connect people.

Commented Kara Wood, Development group Grand Action 2.0 Executive Director, “Certainly, I think this is a very exciting hurdle cleared and it will make our work with the donors much clearer and more understandable. And certainly, given the confidence that the public backing is there to support those private donations.”

Grand Rapids (US)-based Grand Action 2.0 is a not-for-profit economic development organization. Its primary mission is to: Identify downtown and adjacent neighborhood building and transformational capital-intensive projects, galvanize public opinion and support, leverage public/private investments, and formulate and implement funding strategies including securing private sector funding in support of request for primary public sector funding.

‘woodtv.com’ further stated that Wood said it was Grand Action’s job to get the ballot proposal passed but now the County Commission will have to draft and pass an ordinance to actually raise the hotel tax from five percent to eight percent.

She added, “We’re here to make this a great destination for everyone. Not only our existing residents, but also the visitors and the business travelers. So, the work of this ballot initiative has the ability to propel our future forward and into a direction that really does grow that economic impact in Kent County (Michigan).”

The Destination Kent Committee, organized to support the ballot proposal, released a statement recently praising its passage.

The statement read, “These community-owned and -operated assets will create more than a thousand good-paying jobs with over $1.2 billion in new economic impact driving our county’s growth for the next generation.”

The Grand Rapids Soccer Stadium will be designed as a multipurpose, professional, high-performing venue driving economic growth and development in a vital urban district. It will become the home of professional soccer in West Michigan and also serve a broader community asset supporting youth, colleges and amateur clubs.

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