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Mar 19, 2025

Acrisure Amphitheater marks halfway point in construction | wzzm13.com

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — With a round of applause, the final steel beam was secured onto the structure of the Acrisure Amphitheater's canopy in downtown Grand Rapids.

The crew members waved to the crowd, with one waving the American flag that was raised with the final two beams.

"Today signifies a milestone in the construction of the Acrisure Amphitheater," said Scott Veine, project executive for Pioneer-Barton Malow, the two Michigan-based firms building the venue. "We've been about a year and a half of planning of just this portion of the structure. It took a lot of people, a lot of professionals, engineers, contractors, to assemble this magnificent structure above us."

A topping-off ceremony was held at the construction site on Friday afternoon, commemorating the final steel beam being placed onto the amphitheater's canopy.

Project officials said it marks a rough halfway point toward completion.

Construction workers, local officials, community partners, former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and many others who have had roles with the project signed the final beam before it was lifted.

Kevinn Donovan of Barton Malow said two million pounds of structural steel has been used for the canopy.

"This canopy stretches about the length of a football field long, and it's about a football field wide," said Donovan. "It doesn't look it from down here, but the depth of it is about as deep as a two-story house."

Project officials said crews will now be placing metal panels to the framework, along with starting construction on space for 7,000 fixed seats, and lawn seating for an additional 5,000 people.

AliciaMarie Belchak, city commissioner for the First Ward, said the amphitheater provides an opportunity for people across West Michigan.

"We have to remember that this is a project that's going to bring thousands of people to Grand Rapids and hopefully be able to help us expand our tourism and our reach to other parts of the city, including the Third Ward, including the Second Ward, including to all our surrounding neighborhood cities from Walker to Kentwood to Granville and beyond," said Belchak.

Third Ward City Commissioner Marshall Kilgore said other aspects of the amphitheater are meant to increase accessibility.

"The developers and the city leaders before me made sure that this project allows for every city resident to be able to take part in it," said Kilgore. "There will be a smaller stage that's connected to the river way, and that folks can just come together, play guitar and be a part of it without buying a ticket."

Those who have been working on the construction site said it was humbling to see the progress made so far.

"Since the onset of the project, we understood that we were going to be changing the city of Grand Rapids," said Veine. "As a dad here in West Michigan and in Kent County, with my family being from Michigan, it's really humbling."