Ahead of its grand opening, Acrisure Amphitheater has launched a short video highlighting the impact of the venue on the greater Grand Rapids and Kent County community. The Amphitheater partnered with Ingalls Pictures to capture content showcasing the local businesses, employees and educators that have played a key role in the construction and activation of the venue.
The venue has had a profound impact by creating job opportunities prior to the opening. In total, 48 architects and engineers from different disciplines worked more than 33,000 hours to complete the design and documents for construction. In addition, more than 1,000 construction workers participated in the construction of the facility, totaling 357,000 hours over two years. Locally owned and operated, Pioneer Construction has led construction of the venue and marked this final milestone with a private concert this past weekend honoring the workers and their families who helped bring the project to life.
“Most of the time, the cool stuff that I get to do at work, nobody ever sees,” said Jessie Beveridge, employee of Sieffert Steel Erectors Inc. and local musician. “This way, you get to see everything we did. I get to play rock 'n' roll here, all my friends get to come, and my family gets to come. It’s real special to me.”
Beyond opening, Acrisure Amphitheater will continue to contribute to the economic impact of its city, county and state in the years to come. Grand Action 2.0, the economic development organization in charge of developing the amphitheater, projects that the Amphitheater will spur new economic development and inspire entrepreneurs, including restaurants, shops, bars and pop-up retail around the venue. The site development plan increased the permeable surface area of the site by more than 133,000 square feet or 3 acres, and the now 31-acre site will include up to 10 acres of new riverfront recreation space and trails, offering ample opportunity for continued development.
“The Acrisure Amphitheater truly is a venue for the community, owned by the community, built by the community,” said Richard MacKeigan, general manager of Acrisure Amphitheater for Legends Global, which manages the venues. “Acrisure Amphitheater adds to the experience of being a West Michigan resident. I’m excited to see not only the jobs and tourism Acrisure Amphitheater will bring to the community, but also the continued downtown development it will inspire.”
Grand Action 2.0 predicts there will be $807 million net new economic impact to Kent County and $306 million earnings from 790 new jobs in Kent County. Aside from economic impact, the venue has allowed for personal connection and engagement, offering local trade workers the ability to create permanent infrastructure installed throughout the facility, giving students the chance to experience and explore skilled trades in action, and creating a shared sense of pride in building a landmark that will serve the West Michigan community for generations to come.
“The organizations behind the amphitheater welcomed the West Michigan Construction Institute students countless times for job shadows and field trips,” said Jen Schottke, President of the West Michigan Construction Institute. “Projects like this, these landmarks that will be here for generations to come, truly create a thriving community.”
As Acrisure Amphitheater operates in its inaugural season and beyond, the growth will continue to unfold, generating jobs, development opportunities, community inclusion, and so much more. Join in on the community celebration as Acrisure Amphitheater opens this weekend in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
The video is available for the community to watch at AcrisureAmphitheater.com.
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About Acrisure Amphitheater Located along the Grand River in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Acrisure Amphitheater is a 12,000+ capacity outdoor entertainment venue designed to host premier national touring acts and live entertainment along with community and private events. Opening May 2026, the cutting-edge performing arts venue is projected to welcome more than 300,000 visitors each season. Acrisure Amphitheater joins a trusted network of Grand Rapids entertainment venues that have been successfully managed for more than 30 years. To learn more, visit
AcrisureAmphitheater.com or follow Acrisure Amphitheater on
social.
Acrisure Amphitheater,
Amway Stadium,
DeVos Performance Hall,
DeVos Place and
Van Andel Arena are managed by Legends Global, premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands.
About Legends Global Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually. To learn more, visit us at
LegendsGlobal.com and follow us on
LinkedIn and
Instagram.