For years, the idea of a large outdoor concert venue along the river in downtown Grand Rapids felt like a hopeful dream.
Now, with the grand opening of the new Acrisure Amphitheater on May 15, that vision is soon becoming one of the city’s most ambitious live entertainment projects to date.
“People may not realize, this idea has been around for 10 to 15 years, at least,” Rich MacKeigan, general manager for ASM Global—overseeing Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall, DeVos Place, and now Acrisure Amphitheater—told Revue. “It’s gone from something people talked about for over a decade to a venue that’s about to open. That’s pretty exciting.”
While the concept for an amphitheater had circulated for years, the project gained real momentum once infrastructure improvements made the riverfront site viable for development. State funding helped relocate a major sewer line in the area—a complex but critical step that freed up the land where the amphitheater now stands, 201 Market Ave., along the Grand River, right in the heart of downtown.
From there, civic organizations, community leaders, and others helped push the project along. Groups like Grand Action 2.0 embraced the concept, while city and county partners also joined in the effort to bring the venue to life.
But like many large-scale public-private projects, the amphitheater needed a catalyst to really move it towards completion.
“A lot of these types of projects need that first domino to fall,” MacKeigan said.
That domino arrived when Acrisure, and its CEO Greg Williams, committed early financial support—helping accelerate the timeline and cement the project’s legitimacy in the community.
“That really positioned the project extremely well,” MacKeigan said. “It made the conversation much easier than if it was just an idea floating around.”
Construction milestones soon followed. Groundbreaking made the amphitheater tangible, and as the structure began to rise, its presence started to reshape the downtown skyline.
One of the most striking moments came with the installation of the venue’s sweeping canopy, now clearly visible to drivers along U.S. 131.
“People who don’t drive through downtown every day started seeing it and saying, ‘Wow, what is that?’” MacKeigan said.
Another moment that made the project feel suddenly real came when the venue’s seating was installed earlier this year.
“When the seats went in, it looked like you could have hosted a show,” he said. “There’s still work to be done, but that was definitely one of those moments where you step back and go, ‘Okay, this is happening.’”
Unlike many amphitheaters located on the outskirts of other cities, the Acrisure Amphitheater sits directly in the heart of downtown, along the banks of the Grand River. With a capacity of over 12,000, the venue is designed to host national touring entertainment, while maintaining an intimate feel.
MacKeigan believes the location is one of the venue’s biggest advantages.
“I’ve always been a big advocate of downtown venues,” he said. “People can grab dinner, meet friends, go to the concert, and then keep the night going downtown. That’s what makes venues like this really work.”
Guests will enjoy walkable access to a wide range of restaurants, bars, hotels, retail, and cultural experiences, making the amphitheater a key anchor for the city’s entertainment district. Projected to welcome more than 300,000 visitors each season, the venue is expected to bring new energy to downtown while benefiting from the amenities already surrounding Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, and DeVos Performance Hall.
MacKeigan said community leaders intentionally challenged architects to design a venue that was visually iconic—not just functional.
“It could have been done cheaper, or more plainly,” MacKeigan said. “But the goal was to make something architecturally special.”
The result is a riverfront amphitheater designed to wow audiences, touring artists, and production crews. MacKeigan said he believes performers and staff visiting from across the country will be just as impressed as the fans.
“They’re going to be wowed by the building itself, the amenities, and the fact that it’s right on the river,” he said.
Future improvements to the surrounding Riverwalk will connect the amphitheater seamlessly with downtown, enhancing the overall experience.
The venue will officially open with a grand opening concert featuring Lionel Richie on May 15, a booking made possible through long-standing professional relationships with Acrisure and local project supporters.
The night will also include Michigan talent: Americana duo The War and Treaty, and Grand Rapids’ own Brian Vander Ark, frontman of The Verve Pipe. Including local artists reflects the amphitheater’s connection to the community.
“We wanted to acknowledge the community we’re in,” MacKeigan said. “It felt like the right way to celebrate Grand Rapids and Michigan music.”
While touring shows will headline the schedule, including over 40 nationally-touring events, the Acrisure Amphitheater is intended to be a professional performing arts venue with versatile use. Local arts organizations are exploring performances, including potential symphony events, and convention planners have expressed interest in hosting large gatherings, corporate events, and private functions.
“We’ve already got four or five private events booked,” MacKeigan said. “People are looking at using the stage, the pit, the seating areas in all sorts of creative ways.”
For its inaugural season, the amphitheater’s programming will span multiple genres and audiences, ensuring that the venue resonates with as much of the community as possible.
“These venues are community assets. We want as many people as possible to find something that speaks to them.”
Looking further ahead, MacKeigan hopes the amphitheater can earn a similar place in the public’s heart as the city’s other downtown venues, which have been successfully managed for over 30 years.
And when fans leave their first concert at Acrisure Amphitheater?
MacKeigan hopes their reaction is simple:
“Wow.”
Wow because of the music. Wow because of the building. Wow because of the experience of being downtown together.
Acrisure Amphitheater Grand Opening: Lionel Richie
Wsg. The War & Treaty, Brian Vander Ark
May 15, 7:30 p.m., Price varies
Acrisure Amphitheater, 201 Market Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
acrisureamphitheater.com
