GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids is one step closer to having an 8,500-seat soccer stadium built downtown.
On Thursday, the Grand Rapids City Planning Commission approved rezoning land for the stadium, which would be built near Lake Michigan Drive and Winter Avenue downtown. This is also around the downtown YMCA and the former site of the Big Boy restaurant.
Currently, most of the land is used for parking.
The special land use request was submitted by Grand Action 2.0's Executive Director, Kara Wood, a little over a month ago. At this time, the company also revealed its construction plans for the stadium.
Grand Action 2.0 is creating plans and securing funding for the stadium, while the Grand Rapids Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) will own and operate the venue.
The project could cost as much as $175 million, with $115 million in public money and a plan to raise $60 million from the private sector.
Planners said the city could see an economic impact of more than $400 million once it's built.
Initial plans call for the first game to happen in the spring of 2026.
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