Those planning to visit the new Acrisure Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids may be forced to park as far as 37 minutes away by bus from the venue, according to a city website.
The newly completed amphitheater is set to open next month, after which it will host entertainment events for up to 12,000 visitors. Constructing the facility cost $184 million, with about $114 million coming from public coffers.
The venue has already attracted a lineup of A-list talent, such as Jack Johnson, Kid Cudi, and Jerry Seinfeld. Lionel Ritchie is slated to headline the venue’s grand opening show on May 15.
With these major names expected to attract thousands of visitors to downtown, organizers are already predicting parking challenges.
Kara Wood, executive director of Grand Action 2.0, the private economic development group behind the amphitheater and stadium, said in December that “it’s a good problem to have.”
While the venue will have an attached 340-space parking lot, the rest of the attendees will be forced to jockey for accommodations in an already cramped downtown parking scene. In a video by Acrisure, the company says there are roughly 18,000 parking spots within a 15-minute walk of the amphitheater.
The city has already begun work on a reservation system which will see some downtown parking lots blocked off during event times. Those who reserve parking through the city will be subject to multiple fees on top of a base event-parking rate.
The closest parking ramp to the amphitheater, a 10-minute walk away, will charge a base fee of $25, while other lots as far as a 15-minute walk away will charge between $10 and $15.
Those who are not fortunate enough to secure one of these prime spots may be forced to seek park-and-ride options outside the city. One city website listing potential parking spots for event goers includes options that are between 22 and 37 minutes away by bus.
The city website also encourages attendees, in accordance with the city’s Climate Action Plan, to use other commuting options, such as public scooters, The Rapid buses, and bikes.
The Climate Action Plan aims to make parking more difficult as parking lots, and driving in general, are deemed a “climate risk.”
Exacerbating parking concerns for the city is the nearby Amway Stadium, an 8,500-seat soccer stadium, which is expected to attract up to 160,000 visitors per season when it begins hosting events in 2027.
Write to jackson@grherald.com.