Plans reveal likely location of GR soccer stadium
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Action 2.0 on Friday submitted planning documents with the city of Grand Rapids for the planned soccer stadium.
The organization has proposed building the soccer stadium at a 7.5-acre site in the city’s West Side, located along US-131 near the YMCA, the special land use request submitted to the Grand Rapids Planning Commission says. The site is bordered by Lake Michigan Drive to the south, Winter Avenue to the west, Mt Vernon Avenue to the east and Blumrich Street to the north.
Grand Action: Soccer stadium could set Grand Rapids apart
It includes the current YMCA parking lot — which would be replaced with a 42-space lot next to the sports facility — and the property the closed-down Big Boy sits on, which was recently donated by Dan and Pamella DeVos to the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority.
The stadium would consist of two buildings, planning documents say. A building to the west would be three-stories and would include a restaurant, a team store, suites and a press box. The building to the east would be one-story with locker rooms, offices, security and storage.
Both would have restrooms and concessions.
City: Soccer stadium would draw 160K visitors per season
The stadium would have suites and 8,500 seats, with the scoreboard set at the north end of the stadium near Blumrich Street. Its concept will be “rooted in a celebration of our community’s maker culture within the furniture industry and boating,” the docs say.
City leaders anticipate the project could draw more than 164,000 visitors each season.
While parking is not required for the project, the planning docs say, an existing DASH lot with 111 spaces would be retained.
Project leaders expect the stadium will host professional soccer matches, tournaments, and community events like Art Prize and World of Winter.
“Soccer is the fastest growing and most popular sport in the world and across the United States,” the docs say. “Grand Rapids and the West Michigan market is primed for the addition of a professional sporting team and venue. The proposed stadium is envisioned as a vibrant multi-use professional sports venue – a place to gather, work, and play.”
With the YMCA parking lot included in the proposed stadium site, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids told News 8 it has entered into a parking agreement with Grand Valley State University. While members are using the David D. Hunting YMCA, they will be able to park in GVSU’s Seward ramp.
“Since peak parking times are at different times of day for GVSU and the Y, this is a win-win for downtown,” YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids President and CEO Scott Lewis said in a statement.
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