Grand Rapids eyes soccer stadium in aim to boost local sports, events

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A soccer stadium could soon be coming to Grand Rapids.

A potential partnership is in the works between ASM Global and West Michigan Sports Commission, according to officials Friday.

There are a few ideas in the works, including a soccer complex or soccer stadium, according to Mike Guswiler, president of the West Michigan Sports Commission.

“Both are needed,” Guswiler said. “But the conversation really dates back to a grand action study that was done. A destination, assets study that spoke about multiple different things that raise our destination. One of them being a professional soccer team, a soccer stadium, as well as our adult and youth amateur complexes.”

Guswiler continued, saying that bringing a professional soccer team into town would not only bring more people to the area but create more events.

It would come from visitor tax money.

“Well it’s all pointed to the destination,” Guswiler said. “Kent Campaign, it’s campaign to raise the lodging tax in Kent County by 3%. It’s a visitor tax so that, in part, those funds could be applied to these new destination assets. One is the amphitheater that already broke ground, but the other being this proposed soccer stadium.”

In addition to matches, the soccer stadium could be used for more than just soccer when there aren’t any games.