RED WINGS RELEASE SPECIAL STUDENT RUSH TICKETS FOR RED-WHITE GAME

The unparalleled excitement of NHL hockey returns to Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 27 when the reigning Central Division champion Detroit Red Wings engage in a spirited Red-White game at Van Andel Arena, home of the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins. Co-presented by Amway and Meijer, anticipation for this special exhibition match has been growing since tickets went on sale earlier this month, with the lower bowl at Van Andel Arena now completely sold out.

As of this morning, special $10 Student Rush tickets to this game are available for purchase in person at the Van Andel Arena box office ONLY. Fans electing to take advantage of this offer may purchase a maximum of four (4) upper bowl tickets each while supplies last. A valid student identification card must be presented at time of purchase. Non-Student Rush upper bowl seats to next Tuesday's 6:00 pm contest are currently available at the Joe Louis Arena Box Office (313-396-7575), all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at both DetroitRedWings.com and GriffinsHockey.com.

Downtown Venues Kicking Off ArtPrize With Public Opening Receptions

Van Andel Arena is getting on board. Debuting its first ArtPrize exhibit as an official ArtPrize venue, Van Andel Arena will join DeVos Place in opening the competition with public receptions simultaneously just down the block from each other.

DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena will hold the artist receptions on Wednesday, September 21 from 6-9 pm with food and beverages (cash bar). DeVos Place will hold the reception in the Grand Gallery. This is a great starting point for the "official" night as 63 different artists will have works represented in Grand Rapids' premiere convention center.

Van Andel Arena will host the artist reception at the same time in front of the Fifth Third Bank Vault (restaurant in the arena). The focus will be around the artists by our marquee. The restaurant will be open too. Food and beverages with the cash bar will be available also.

The public is encouraged to join us as we kick off the third annual ArtPrize in style! Not only will the public be able to mingle with more ArtPrize enthusiasts, they will also get to see some great art and learn more about the artists.

Joe Krajkiewcz and Van Andel Arena Bring Dinosaur to Life for ArtPrize 2011

Van Andel Arena will host the metal sculpture Deinonychus by Grandville artist Joe Krajkiewcz during ArtPrize 2011. Deinonychus is being shown in front of the arena at 130 West Fulton. The installation will run until the end of ArtPrize, October 9th.

Deinonychus (think Velociraptor) is a life-size sculpture of the dinosaur. It is made of recycled auto body panels cut and welded over a steel rebar skeleton. It is Joe's first sculpture reusing auto sheet metal for shape and color. "I hope that it grabs the viewer's imagination with both the subject and construction. My goal was to create a piece that both young and old would be drawn to," states Krajkiewcz.

He works primarily with metal plate, rod, and wire to create representative sculptures. He draws inspiration from the simple and complex forms found in nature, aiming to bring those qualities of life to his metal sculpture.

Joe Krajkiewcz has lived in the Grand Rapids area for seven years. He pursues art and sculpture in addition to his full time employment as an engineer. This is his second year participating in ArtPrize. He also has artwork currently on display at the Sparta AppleJam, Grand Haven Artwalk, Holland MI ARTS Exhibition, and ArtPeers Fall Festival. His sculptures are held in many private local locations. He resides with his wife(Erica) in Grandville, MI.

He can be contacted through email at krajkiewcz@yahoo.com. Additional information on his artwork is available online at http://www.joekrajkiewcz.com/

Donate Blood and Receive FREE Ticket for Circus

Michigan Blood has teamed up with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to provide a $25 ticket voucher to anyone who attempts to donate blood at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The voucher is redeemable for a ticket to any of the six performances of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Barnum 200 at Van Andel Arena on Sept. 15 through Sept. 18.

"Offering a voucher redeemable for a free $25 ticket is a tremendous way to thank our donors for their dedication to Michigan Blood and our partner hospitals across the state," said Nick Wasmiller, manager of public relations at Michigan Blood.

The box office will be open at Van Andel Arena during the blood drive, making it even easier to redeem the voucher for a ticket. In addition, limited parking will be available for donors on Ottawa Avenue SW, just west of Van Andel Arena, throughout the blood drive. One hour of free parking also is available at the Monroe Center ramp (entrance off of Ionia Avenue) just one block northeast of Van Andel Arena. Donors can enter Van Andel Arena via the largest glass doors at the northwest side of the arena.

Michigan Blood conducts more than 3,700 blood drives a year in order to help meet the needs of local hospitals in Michigan. These blood drives account for 70 percent of the blood that Michigan Blood collects; the other 30 percent comes from donations at Michigan Blood's nine permanent donation centers across the state. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood every 56 days. Blood donors should bring photo ID (or two forms of non-photo ID). Appointments (preferred, but not required) can be made at www.miblood.org or by calling 1-866-MIBLOOD (642-5663).

For more information on The Greatest Show on Earth visit www.Ringling.com

Detroit Red Wings to Scrimmage at Van Andel Arena

Coming back to their home away from home, the Detroit Red Wings will accommodate its legions of West Michigan fans by bringing the Red vs. White game to Grand Rapids' Van Andel Arena on September 27 at 6 pm.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 7 at 10 am. Prices are $18, $20, $22, $25, $30 and $40. There will be a $5 discount for season ticket holders on the $25 and $22 seats only. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone: 800-745-3000. Groups of 10 can receive $3 off the $22 and $18 seats.

Van Andel Arena, home to the Grand Rapids Griffins, will be bringing the Griffins' NHL parent club to the west side of the state for the first time since 2007. Prior to that, the Red Wings also held a Red vs. White scrimmage at the arena in 2003.

This fall, the Red Wings intrasquad scrimmage at Van Andel Arena will be bringing in some of hockey's famous names and best players to downtown Grand Rapids including Muskegon-native Justin Abdelkader and team captain Nicklas Lidstrom. West Michigan fans can catch all the action in their own backyard as the Red Wings prepare for yet another successful year.

The 2010-2011 Red Wings' season ended last May in a Game 7 loss to the San Jose Sharks after coming back from a 3-0 game deficit. San Jose moved on to play the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference Finals.

Van Andel Arena is managed by SMG. Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to moer than 220 public assembly facilities worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, convention, congress and exhibition centers, science centers and a variety of other venues. Across the globe, SMG manages more than 12 million square feet (1.2 million square meters) of exhibition space and over 1.5 million arena and theatre seats. For additional company information, visit smgworld.com.