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Van Andel Arena

Indoor arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Field	Value
name	Van Andel Arena
nickname	"The Freezer on Fulton"
image	Van Andel Arena 2021.jpg
logo_image	Van Andel Arena logo.png
logo_size	150px
address	130 West Fulton Street
location	Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
coordinates
broke_ground	February 8, 1995
opened	October 8, 1996
owner	Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
operator	SMG
construction_cost	$78 million
($ in dollars)
architect	Rossetti Architects
structural_engineer	McClurg & Associates, Inc.
services_engineer	URS Greiner, Inc./Henderson
general_contractor	Hunt/Erhardt Joint Venture
tenants	Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) (1996–present)
Grand Rapids Hoops (CBA) (1996–2001)
Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) (1998–2009)
Grand Rapids Gold (NBAGL) (2022–present)
Grand Rapids Rise (MLV) (2024–present)
seating_capacity	Concerts: 13,184
Basketball: 11,500
Ice hockey: 10,834
Arena football: 10,618
website

($ in dollars) Grand Rapids Hoops (CBA) (1996–2001) Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) (1998–2009) Grand Rapids Gold (NBAGL) (2022–present) Grand Rapids Rise (MLV) (2024–present) Basketball: 11,500 Ice hockey: 10,834 Arena football: 10,618

Van Andel Arena is a multi-purpose arena situated in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The arena attracted over five million patrons in its first 5 years, 1996–2001. It serves as the home of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, and the Grand Rapids Rise of Major League Volleyball. Seating 10,834 for ice hockey and up to 13,184 for concerts, Van Andel Arena is the fourth-largest arena in Michigan, as well as West Michigan's largest; only Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, and Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are larger.

Background

After a $78 million construction effort, the arena opened on October 8, 1996. The 12,000 plus seat arena is managed by ASM Global. It was named in recognition of the largest benefactors, Jay and Betty Van Andel.

It is home to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, the top minor league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, with fans giving it the nickname "The Freezer on Fulton". It is also home to the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, the minor league affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, and the Grand Rapids Rise of Major League Volleyball.

The arena was 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 2009.

It has hosted acts such as Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Metallica, Phish, Slipknot, Jack White, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Eagles, Barenaked Ladies, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Aerosmith, Ariana Grande, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Twenty One Pilots, Roger Waters, The Who, Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Avenged Sevenfold, Rush, TLC, Marilyn Manson, Kenny Chesney, Linkin Park, OneRepublic, Kid Rock, Katy Perry, P!nk, TobyMac, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, For King & Country, Newsboys, Morgan Wallen, The Harlem Globetrotters, World Wrestling Entertainment, All Elite Wrestling, Disney, Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, NCAA Hockey Regional Championships, the AFL ArenaBowl XV game, professional boxing and basketball exhibition games for the Detroit Pistons, Michigan State University Basketball & Grand Valley State University. It also hosted the 2001 Big Ten women's basketball tournament.

On October 20, 2001, during a show co-headlining with Slipknot, System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian was assaulted, racially profiled and escorted out of the arena by security guards working for DuHadway Kendall. He filed a lawsuit in 2003.

On July 20, 2024, former and future president Donald Trump held his first rally in the arena after an assassination attempt one week earlier. He also held the final rally of his 2024 presidential campaign in the arena on November 4 of that year. He similarly ended both his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns at Van Andel as well.

Description

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 x 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 1,300 retractable seats.

For Grand Rapids Griffins ice hockey games, the arena has a capacity of 10,834.

In popular culture

The arena and Grand Rapids Griffins are featured briefly in a sketch on the comedy show Nick Swardson's Pretend Time, in which Nick attempts to propose but is instead repeatedly hit in the face with hockey pucks.

The arena was where Mötley Crüe shot their 2005 Carnival of Sins DVD and was also the setting for System of a Down's 2005 music video for their single, "Hypnotize".

References

"About Us". Grand Action.
McVicar, Brian. (June 5, 2022). "A 'symbolic' milestone: After 27 years, $57M Van Andel Arena bonds paid off".
(July 2025). "1997 AIA Michigan Design Honor Award". American Institute of Architects in Michigan.
(June 2, 2022). "Grand Rapids Gold to Call Van Andel Arena Home for Upcoming Seasons". National Basketball Association.
"Disney on Ice comes to Van Andel Arena". [[WZZM]].
(June 22, 2022). "Van Andel Arena". Grand Rapids Public Museum.
"Linkin Park Setlist at Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids".
(March 28, 2011). "Newsboys add a bit of flash to Christian music Winter Jam Tour in Grand Rapids".
Patton, Alli. (December 1, 2022). "Morgan Wallen Announces 2023 World Tour".
"System of a Down Bassist Sues Security Team for Humiliating Him in Front of Fans". [[MTV]].
(2024-07-20). "Doors open ahead of Trump-Vance rally in Grand Rapids".
Staff, KATIE SERGENT {{!}} WWMT. (2024-07-20). "WATCH: Donald Trump, JD Vance set to arrive in West Michigan for Grand Rapids rally".
"Trump, Vance campaign in Grand Rapids".
Dickson, James. (2024-11-04). "Trump to end 2024 campaign yet again in Grand Rapids, Michigan".
(April 5, 2007). "Friday's Game Sold Out". Grand Rapids Griffins.
"Comedy Central Sketch Show Nick Swardson's Pretend Time".
Moss, Corey. (September 28, 2005). "System Singer Visits Congressman's Office To Push Genocide Bill". MTV.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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