Construction is officially underway on new Amway Stadium, a major undertaking that will transform downtown Grand Rapids. Ground was broken ceremonially in the corner of Pearl Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue, marking the start of a $175 million project to bring an 8,500-seat soccer stadium to the city core.
Constructed as the prospective future home of a Major League Soccer Next Pro team—the stadium will not just host professional matches but a variety of community-focused events, including concerts and other sporting tournaments.
The ambitious project is being funded through a combination of public and private donations. Amway will contribute $33 million for naming rights, as well as contributing towards funding costs through the increase in Kent County’s hotel tax. Construction of the building is planned to be complete by 2027.
“This is another pivotal moment for the west side of Grand Rapids,” said Dick DeVos, co-chair of Grand Action 2.0. “What we’re seeing is a continued reimagining of the area—now with soccer taking center stage as part of its evolving identity.”
Amenities
Upon completion, the stadium will boast state-of-the-art amenities such as a team store, private suites, and an on-site restaurant. It will host around 17 home games annually, with room on the calendar for an estimated 50 other events.
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The New Amway Stadium in Grand Rapids: Ownership and economic impact
Operation and ownership will fall to the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority. Based on estimates by Grand Action 2.0, the facility has the potential to bring up to 160,000 visitors downtown annually. The future economic prospects over the long haul are also enormous, with the creation of 330 jobs and over $400 million in economic impact expected to be seen within the next thirty years.
Construction team
Though the soccer team’s official name has yet to be disclosed, anticipation of the team is growing as the ground breaks. Led by Rockford with AECOM Hunt, the building does some serious heavy lifting—literally. The designs require 12 million pounds of concrete, 678,000 pounds of rebar, 118,000 tons of structural steel, 175 miles of wire and cable, and more than 10 miles of HVAC piping. Topping it all off will be a massive three-story scoreboard.
As the construction of Amway stadium gets underway, so too does anticipation for a new generation of professional soccer—and city vitality—in Grand Rapids.
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Construction underway on Amway Stadium: Project Factsheet
Project Overview: New 8,500-seat soccer stadium in downtown Grand Rapids at Pearl Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue
Cost: $175 million
Timeline: Construction breaking 2025, completion planned by 2027
Funding: Public-private partnership including $33 million from Amway for naming rights and partial funding through increased Kent County hotel tax
Purpose: Future home for MLS Next Pro team (working name “West Michigan Soccer”) plus community events, concerts and sporting tournaments
Economic Impact:
330 jobs created
Projected $400 million economic impact over 30 years
Expected to bring 160,000 annual visitors downtown
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New Amway Stadium construction in Grand Rapids: Facility Features
Team store
Private suites
On-site restaurant
Three-story scoreboard
Management: Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
Construction Team:
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