Wrapping up the year with a ribbon

Fans making their way to last week's Stevie Nicks concert probably noticed something new on the front of the arena.

The holiday season has arrived once again which means Van Andel Arena has itself wrapped in more than just a busy schedule of events. A giant, red ribbon has been installed on the face of the arena to celebrate the holidays.

This will be the third season the ribbon, decked out in many red lights to shine a bright and stunning display throughout the night, has been installed on the arena. It is 8 feet wide and spans across the front of Van Andel Arena, reaching 300 feet all the way across.

As it has the previous three years, the ribbon will remain displayed on the arena throughout the holiday season.

In lieu of a tree, arena staff decided to do something a little different to celebrate the holidays in 2014 by installing the ribbon. Christmas Décor by Lakeshore Lighting built the ribbon for the arena and installs it each year.

The ribbon being installed this November.

It seems some fans have already taken notice of the ribbon's glowing return to downtown:

What a beautiful addition to Downtown G.R. this Christmas season 🎁@CityGrandRapids @VanAndelArena pic.twitter.com/lczUjNfoiW

— Abigail Taylor (@AbigailTaylor_8) December 1, 2016

Hockeying tonight. The @griffinshockey must have heard I was coming & spruced the place up. #GoGRG #TisTheSeason @VanAndelArena pic.twitter.com/jyEdIJMB61

— Emily Waldon (@emilywaldon2080) November 30, 2016

Kanye West Concert One of Biggest Productions in Van Andel Arena History

Following through on the promise of going big for the 20th anniversary, last night’s Kanye West concert proved to be one of the biggest productions Van Andel Arena has ever experienced.

With a completely levitating stage and a total grid weight of over 200,000 pounds, the concert had the heaviest production in Van Andel Arena history. The specialized rigging utilized 182 motors and required an extra day to load-in.

The stage was suspended from the ceiling, moved from side to side and end to end over the general admission floor, and tilted to bring Kanye even closer to his fans as he performed suspended above them throughout the entire show. There was absolutely no equipment or staging on the floor, barring a set of speakers lining the perimeter, a set-up that is rarely seen for concerts.

Kanye West "Saint Pablo Tour" at Van Andel Arena - Photo by Jim Hill

“While we certainly have seen bigger concert stages, we’ve never seen a stage quite like this one,” commented Richard MacKeigan, SMG Regional General Manager for Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place. “A show like Kanye’s with a floating stage and nothing but fans on the floor not only pushes the boundaries of what the concert industry is capable of but also what we are capable of as a venue in this community. It was very exciting to have him here in Grand Rapids.”

The Kanye West concert was the latest event showcasing the diversity of programming that SMG staff strives to offer at Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall, bringing in a wide range of entertainers across a variety of genres for the West Michigan community to enjoy.

Between the three venues, Grand Rapids has seen broad spectrum of events, from family shows such as Marvel Universe Live, musical icons such as Paul McCartney and Elton John, R&B and hip-hop superstars such as Lil Wayne and R. Kelly, all-star Christian line-ups in Winter Jam and Outcry Tour, Mexican singer-songwriter Gerardo Ortiz, cultural shows such as Celtic Woman and Shen Yun, Tyler Perry’s Madea On The Run, hard rock groups such as Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, and Rob Zombie, and many more.

“We’ve been working very hard to have a full schedule of shows that has something for everyone in it throughout the year. These are community buildings, and we want our programming to reflect the entire community,” said MacKeigan. “Being able to bring a show like Kanye’s Saint Pablo Tour to Grand Rapids is a great example of what we have been able to do because of the support of the diverse landscape here.”

Spokefly: Keeping Grand Rapids Green!

With Grand Rapids becoming a center of business and culture development, efforts are being made to make it more…green! Sustainability has become a strong focus of development in the city, especially through the implementation of new public transportation. Recognizing the desire for more convenient and green transportation, Spokefly, a bike share program brought by the Spoke Folks, has recently launched in the Grand Rapids community. Spoke Folks brought their love of cycling to the city with this easy to use bike sharing system. So…

What is “bike sharing”?

Bike sharing, according to Spokefly, allows for a cleaner and greener way to commute within the city. Through sharing bikes with others, this form of public transportation cuts back on toxic emissions from cars and promotes a healthier lifestyle while also placing convenient bike stops throughout the city for easy access to businesses downtown. With these locations sporadically placed throughout the downtown area, bike riders can rent a bike for $1 per ride plus $0.15/minute. For example, a 10-minute ride will cost $2.50. The Spoke Folks hope to expand the program to the city’s neighborhoods next year.

How does it work?

In order to use Spokefly, you’ll first need to become familiar with the locations in which you can rent a bike. Download the Spokefly app from the Apple App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). From there, you’ll be able to use a map to determine where the closest bike location is for you. From the same app, you’ll be able to pay for rental, unlock a bike and return a bike to a Spokefly location. Once you get a location set, you’ll snap a picture of the bike to the Spokefly app and get the combination needed in order to return the bike.

Is there one near the Arena?

There is a Spokefly bike rack next to Van Andel Arena, towards Ionia Street. There is also one located near the corner of Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street, right next to DeVos Place, for convenient travel to events in both the convention center and DeVos Performance Hall.



Please click to download the app to iPhones or Androids.