Press Release

04/27/2026

Grand Rapids – Locally owned and operated company Irwin has helped bring Acrisure Amphitheater to life, as the seats have officially been installed into the new venue. Beyond the premium design and quality, Irwin adds a deeper layer of community connection to the project, having been based in Grand Rapids, Michigan for nearly 120 years.

The 12,000+ seat outdoor entertainment venue includes 7,000 fixed seats—each one produced locally at the Irwin manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids. From initial planning and design through fabrication and final installation at the amphitheater, local expertise was involved at every stage of the process.

Irwin’s manufacturing approach is grounded in skilled, hands-on production, with human-led work including welding, metal fabrication, assembly, and finishing. This labor-driven process supports both product quality and local employment, reinforcing the company’s role in supporting the Grand Rapids community and local economy.

Acrisure Amphitheater holds Irwin’s Venue 360 model– one of their newest product lines– also to be featured in the new Tennessee Titans’ Nissan Stadium, Jacksonville Jaguars' Stadium of the Future and Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium. In addition to the seating, Irwin designed custom drink tables, provided in part by RJ Woodworking out of Muskegon, further contributing to a cohesive, locally produced installation. Joshua Davison, 46-year Grand Rapids resident, worked specifically on welding the custom drink tables that now sit at the amphitheater.

“A lot of projects we do are local, so going to places like movie theaters and stadiums and seeing work that I’ve welded means a lot to me being born and raised here. Now, I can’t wait to hopefully go to the amphitheater and set a drink on one of the drink tables. I really enjoy working on these projects and being able to go out and see them in the community,” said Davison.

For the many Grand Rapids natives who have played a role in this project, Irwin’s involvement goes beyond the design and manufacturing process as their families and friends will experience their work firsthand.

“This venue will be a place where we have experiences and make memories with our families and friends, so to have played a part in the work is a great source of pride,” said Marnie Vander Weide, Irwin’s Project Manager for the amphitheater.

“We seat venues around the world—from the Buffalo Bills' new stadium to the Sphere – and lately FIFA World Cup venues—but Acrisure Amphitheater is different. It’s right here in our hometown. So, we can do more than talk about it–we can bring our families to shows, sit in those seats, and know we made them just up the road. Pretty cool, right?" said Dave Kantor, Irwin Director of Insights.

Irwin's portfolio extends across the globe including premier entertainment venues such as, Carnegie Hall, the Sphere, Churchill Downs, and Madison Square Garden, among others. The addition of Acrisure Amphitheater strengthens its local presence in West Michigan, alongside installations at nearly 60 locations such as Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall, Frederick Meijer Gardens, LMCU Ballpark, St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids Community College, multiple Celebration Cinema locations and area schools including Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Northview, Comstock Park, and Hudsonville High Schools. Irwin will also produce seating for Amway Stadium, the newest Grand Rapids venue, scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

“It’s really special for the community and our employees to be able to experience our products right here in West Michigan. So often we work on venues hundreds or thousands of miles away, and to be able to have that experience right here in our hometown is going to be really fun,” said Coke Irwin, Sr. Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We are proud of the partnerships that we have forged in West Michigan in support of our shared goal—to create facilities in our community that uphold the legacy and set the standard for world-class facilities. A standard exemplified by DeVos Performance Hall and Van Andel Arena, and soon to be carried on by the Acrisure Amphitheater and Amway Stadium.”

Acrisure Amphitheater is set to welcome the public into these seats for the first time on May 15. These locally produced seats will hold patrons’ first memories of the new venue, marking the beginning of a new era of live entertainment in Grand Rapids.

About Irwin
For over a century, Irwin has been an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of audience seating for cinema, education, performing arts, and arenas worldwide. Through craftsmanship, innovation, and purpose, Irwin continues to create environments that bring people together — to learn, to create, and to experience.