Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall enjoy record year in Grand Rapids

The recently closed fiscal year proved to be a record-breaking year for the SMG-managed venues in Grand Rapids, Michigan – Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, and DeVos Performance Hall. With the record-breaking combined fiscal performance from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, the three venues are continuing the momentum generated by the celebration of Van Andel Arena’s 20th anniversary in 2016.

Van Andel Arena hosted 37 events for a total of 60 performances throughout the fiscal year, not including Grand Rapids Griffins AHL Hockey games and non-ticketed events. Some highlights included the legendary Paul McCartney setting a record for gross ticket sales for a single event and Kanye West bringing the heaviest production the arena has ever seen. The arena also hosted Journey & The Doobie Brothers, Blink-182, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Snoop Dogg, Professional Bull Riders, Eric Church, a live broadcast of WWE RAW, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Red Hot Chili Peppers and several others.

“We had a big year planned for the 20th anniversary of Van Andel Arena, and that carried over down the street at DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall as well,” said SMG Regional General Manager Richard MacKeigan. “The enthusiasm we operate with and the success we have been able to enjoy is a manifestation of the support we have from the community and SMG, and the confidence we gain from the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority.”

Adding yet another arena highlight to a year that already had plenty, the Griffins clinched their second Calder Cup Championship in franchise history on home ice in June.

"Grand Rapids has three wonderful venues and the corporate staff in the SMG Live Entertainment Division did a magnificent job working with them to achieve some outstanding results that we are very proud of,” said SMG Executive Vice President Doug Thornton. "We work hard to make sure our corporate resources are of great value to our buildings around the world, and the performance in Grand Rapids last year is a perfect example of the partnerships we strive to create."

Chris Cornell at DeVos Performance Hall

DeVos Performance Hall hosted a number of significant events as well, including Aretha Franklin, Dan TDM, Bill Engvall, Boston, Chris Cornell, and others. In addition to its usual run of public shows such as the 9th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival, an event created by SMG Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA), DeVos Place hosted a number of private events, conventions, conferences, and meetings to keep a fully loaded schedule that rarely left the building idle.

Comedian Bill Engvall at DeVos Performance Hall

In addition to ticketed events, the buildings hosted several events open to the community as well. Both DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena hosted art installations during ArtPrize, an annual international art competition held in Grand Rapids. Two of the installations in DeVos Place were chosen as winners in their categories.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary, Van Andel Arena opened its doors to the public with a free Halloween Open House in October and capped off the year-long commemoration with a charity dinner in January featuring a moderated discussion with General Managers of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, and Detroit Tigers with all proceeds benefitting local non-profit organizations.

Both DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena hosted graduation ceremonies this fiscal year. Other events such as the Turkey Trot 5K to benefit Grand Rapids Public Schools on Thanksgiving morning, Barley, BBQ & Beats to benefit Hospice of Michigan, and Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Food from the Heart took place as well.

The year wasn’t without its accolades along the way as Regional General Manager Richard MacKeigan was named among the industry’s elite on Billboard’s Top Arena Managers list in September and followed that up by being named winner of Venues Today’s “most prestigious award,” the Hall of Headlines in December.

In order to improve the guest experience, Van Andel Arena installed new LED lighting both inside and outside of the arena, and repaired sections of sidewalk around the building. The arena also wrapped itself in a bow again to celebrate the holidays and gave the marquee a facelift to improve its graphical capabilities.

DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena both continued their commitment to the 2030 District, a downtown district facilitated by the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan with help from the Institute for Energy Innovation, aimed at dramatically reducing environmental impacts in the community. DeVos Place and Van Andel Arena also participated in the Annual Battle of the Buildings Energy Summit to highlight its ongoing sustainability efforts.

“We can’t wait to show West Michigan what is in store for the new fiscal year,” added MacKeigan. “We are thrilled to be able to match the energy that we feel from the community and our partners that make this all possible.”

Fans in costume at the 20th Anniversary Halloween Open House

Richard MacKeigan named Hall of Headlines Winner; Van Andel Arena a Top Stop in 2016

Venues Today magazine presented its “most prestigious award,” the Hall of Headlines, this month with Richard MacKeigan receiving the honor in the Bookings category.

MacKeigan, Regional General Manager for SMG at Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, was nominated for bookings for breaking multiple venue records including Garth Brooks’ record for most tickets sold for a single engagement and Paul McCartney’s record for gross ticket sales for a single event, in addition to Kanye West bringing in one of the largest productions the venue has ever seen.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Van Andel Arena has seen one of the biggest years in its history in 2016, hosting over 30 concerts which is its highest number in 18 years.

“This says a lot about our community. We’ve had an incredible year with some big shows, but they were only as big as they were because of support from our community in West Michigan,” said MacKeigan. “That paired with ongoing confidence from the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority has laid the foundation and provided proof that this community can support some of the biggest events. We are all very excited to continue building on that momentum.”

Including MacKeigan, SMG had a record 14 nominees for this year’s Hall of Headlines, including four from Grand Rapids. Hilarie Szarowicz, (Director of Marketing at Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place), Jeff Dubin (Director of Food & Beverage for SAVOR at Van Andel Arena), and Eddie Tadlock (Assistant General Manager at DeVos Place) were nominated this year as well.

Among the other nominees from SMG, Meghan Doyle (Director of Marketing at the BOK Centre in Tulsa, OK) and Mark Anderson (General Manager and Vice President of Premier Food Services in Del Mar, CA) were named winners of the Hall of Headlines in the Marketing and Concessions categories respectively.

Van Andel Arena makes Top Stops list for 2016
Van Andel Arena was recognized elsewhere in Venues Today’s latest edition as well. The magazine included its final Top Stops list for 2016 and the arena showed up at #4 in North America and #11 worldwide for venues with a capacity of 10,001-15,000. The list ranks the top 20 venues in size categories by total gross sales between October 16, 2015 and October 15, 2016. In addition to Van Andel Arena, seven other SMG venues were also named to the Top Stops list in the 10,001-15,000 category. They are Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD, König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL, Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, KS, Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD, and DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

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

Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place executives nominated for industry awards

Garth Brooks at Van Andel Arena on May 12, 2016

This December, Venues Today magazine will be presenting its “most prestigious award,” the Hall of Headlines, with SMG receiving a record 14 nominations, including four executives from Grand Rapids. The categories featured in the nominations include News, Bookings, Operations and Tech, Marketing, and Concessions with SMG nominated in all 5 categories.

Rich MacKeigan, General Manager for SMG at Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place was nominated for bookings for breaking multiple venue records including Garth Brooks’ record for most tickets sold for a single engagement and Paul McCartney’s record for gross ticket sales for a single event.

Hilarie Szarowicz, Director of Marketing at Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place was nominated for hosting a Facebook promotion encouraging people to share their favorite event memory and/or photo using hashtag #MyVAA20 in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Van Andel Arena. The promotion was intended to build awareness of the arena’s 20th anniversary while capturing user content for use in future marketing materials. The campaign resulted in 41,599 people reached, 1,300+ memories (comments) posted, 844 reactions and 118 shares.

In the Concessions category, Jeff Dubin, Director of Food & Beverage for SAVOR at Van Andel Arena, was nominated for introducing a new take on the everyday salad bar called a “Living Salad Bar” for the bands, staff and crew of the “San Francisco Fest Tour,” featuring rock bands Journey, The Doobie Brothers and Dave Mason Aug. 2, 2016.

"Living Salad Bar"

The Living Salad Bar featured several types of lettuces and kales with all of the typical salad ingredients, with the exception that the lettuce is still alive. In order to provide the freshest salad possible, staff and crew snip their lettuce fresh off the plant before placing it on their plate.

For the Operations and Tech category, SMG’s Eddie Tadlock, Assistant General Manager at DeVos Place, was nominated for efforts to decrease energy usage by 6.03 percent by installing new equipment and reducing wasted resources resulting in the venue finishing second in the 2nd annual Michigan Battle of the Buildings Energy Summit.

In total, 14 SMG executives were nominated across all five categories of the awards. Other SMG executives nominated are listed below.

Bookings category:

• Leonard Bonacci, Regional Vice President at University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, AZ 
• Lynn Carlotto, General Manager at Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada 
• Jerry Goldman, Assistant General Manager at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN 
• Jeff Nickler, General Manager at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK 
• Chris Semrau, Assistant General Manager at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, in Sioux Falls, SD 

Marketing category:

• Josh Kesler, Marketing & Sales Manager at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville, KY 
• Steve Poremba, Director of Marketing at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA 
• Meghan Doyle, Director of Marketing at the BOK Centre in Tulsa, OK 

Concessions category:

• Mark Anderson, General Manager and Vice President of Premier Food Services in Del Mar, CA 

News category:

• Eduardo Cajina, General Manager at the Coliseo of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Van Andel Arena’s Richard MacKeigan named among concert industry's elite on Billboard’s Top Arena Managers list

SMG Regional General Manager Richard MacKeigan has been a vital part of putting Grand Rapids on the map in the concert industry for the past 18 years and his work is not going unnoticed. The September 24, 2016 issue of Billboard magazine includes the list of Top Arena Managers chosen for “their leadership of the venues that dominate Boxscore rankings,” and MacKeigan is mentioned among the 10 listed for arenas with capacities between 10,001 and 15,000.

The magazine mentions Van Andel Arena’s 20th anniversary and some of the larger shows that have come to Grand Rapids recently, including Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Elton John, and Kanye West.

“We have consistently fought above our weight class when it comes to concerts and their success,” says MacKeigan in the piece.

MacKeigan, a native of Canada and father of three, came to Grand Rapids in September of 1998 as SMG General Manager. He has been at the forefront of shaping the entertainment industry in Grand Rapids with financial, marketing, booking and operational responsibility for Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall.

“This is a reflection of everyone in Grand Rapids. The community has supported us for 20 years and allowed us to continue to grow and bring in some of the biggest shows touring today,” MacKeigan said of the ranking. “The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) placed their trust in SMG and our local staff, and we have worked hard in partnership with our SMG Corporate staff to be sure promoters, agents, managers and artists continue to have Grand Rapids at front of mind when they are planning their shows.”

Van Andel Arena Tops List of North American Venues
The Boxscore rankings, which are the determining factor in the Top Arena Managers list, show Van Andel Arena as the top ranking venue in North America with a capacity between 10,001 and 15,000. The Grand Rapids arena ranks as #5 worldwide and joins Intrust Bank Arena (#6, Wichita, Kansas) as the only other SMG-managed venue on the list. SMG also manages Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, which appeared at #4 worldwide for venues with a capacity above 15,000.

The Boxscore ranking lists venues by size and total gross ticket sales between November 10, 2015 and July 18, 2016. Van Andel Arena’s #1 North American ranking comes behind a reported $13.4 million in gross ticket sales from a wide-ranging set of shows. During this period, the arena saw huge sales from sold out and near-sold out shows such as Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Zac Brown Band, Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Elton John, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire, twenty one pilots and Def Leppard, as well as a six-show run from Garth Brooks that broke venue attendance records. The sellouts and huge crowds continue a trend that the arena has enjoyed since first opening its doors, proving to promoters again and again that Grand Rapids is a must-play destination when routing their artists’ tour schedules.

The momentum has continued since then with programming growing in both diversity and size. Van Andel Arena recently hosted one of the largest productions to date with Kanye West’s “Saint Pablo Tour” on September 27, and Paul McCartney set an arena record for gross ticket sales from a single event when his “One on One” Tour made a stop in Grand Rapids on August 15.

Let’s face it, rock concerts are not a night at the symphony and the rules to live by while at the venue are quite a bit more relaxed. However, there is still a code that you should follow while you are at a concert. This goes for any show at any venue.

This is not a new topic, but it is one worth revisiting (as it often is over and over again by various sources). Regardless of how many times a blogger, magazine, or journalist writes an article about concert etiquette, we still hear frequent stories from fans about a ruined concert experience because of the behavior of those around them. Obviously, you need to stay within the law and respect the venue’s policies, but there are also a set of unwritten (and not always agreed upon) rules to keep in mind while you attend your next concert.

Before we ask your opinion on concert etiquette, please allow us to present a few thoughts based on feedback we have heard from fans over the years.

The Sit or Stand Dilemma
This one comes up a lot. You can easily split a concert crowd into two categories: those who like to sit and those who like to stand. For some shows, it’s almost a unanimous mindset leaning one way or the other, but for other shows, there is a gray area that can easily cause issues between patrons.

Our best advice is to look at your surroundings. Are you at a high energy rock concert where everyone else is standing? Then it is probably okay to get up on your feet.

Are you at a low-key performance where most everyone is seated? Then it is probably best to give your feet a rest.

Simply, be considerate of those around you. You wouldn’t want somebody blocking your view and ruining your experience, would you?

Have tickets and/or ID ready
Occasionally, there can be very long lines to get into an event. If you have your tickets, and in some cases I.D. and credit card (for paperless entry), ready when you reach the turnstiles, it will make the entire process quicker and easier for everyone involved. The more time you take fumbling through your belongings looking for your tickets, the more time there is for fans to begin piling up behind you.

Talking
Concerts are social events, so it is natural to want to turn to your bestie and show your excitement when your favorite song begins, but try not to go too far. It’s alright to talk to your heart’s desire in between acts, but once the musicians are on stage, do your best to pay attention to the show. You came to see the band perform, not catch up on the latest gossip. If you would rather sit and chat through the entire show, perhaps watching a live concert DVD at home is more your style. There will be plenty of time to discuss the fine details after the final notes have been played. 

Besides becoming the mortal enemy of concert-goers sitting next to you, you might anger the artist to the point of them leaving the stage as well.

Phones
If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
If you were at a live concert and you couldn’t inform everyone you know that you were having more fun than them, were you really there?

In the age of social media, sometimes it can seem as though you aren’t having fun unless you are posting to your social media pages to show just how much fun you are having. We are ever-connected to our devices these days, but much like everything else moderation is key. It’s fine to snap a few pics here and there, send out a tweet or two, or check in with the baby sitter via a quick text, but that bright light of yours can be very distracting. 

Also keep in mind that some shows will not even allow the usage of phones. The Eagles and Kevin Hart are examples of recent shows that enforced a strict “no cell phone” policy. And tablets? They are almost never allowed in, and we would strongly encourage you not to use them even if they were. (They are huge! You might as well erect a billboard in front of the person behind you while you hold it up to snap some pics.)

Enjoy the moment, use your phone sparingly, and create some memories. You come to see a live show, not watch it through a tiny screen, right? Besides, let’s face it – chances are most of those pics and videos you take with your phone aren’t going to turn out very well anyway. (Pro Tip: Using your flash when taking pics at a concert does nothing for the exposure. That bright light will only travel a few feet directly in front of you. It's best to turn it off when taking some shots at a show.)

Dancing
Rocking out in your own personal space without completely invading the personal space of the people sitting next to you is a skill. If you are not sure how to do it, watch the veteran concert-goers around you. They know how to ramp up the excitement while toning down the arm-flailing. Furthermore, if you are holding a drink, do not forget that you are holding a drink!

Nobody likes a cold liquid being spilled in their hair or down their back because the person behind them cannot stop sloshing their beverage around while attempting to showcase their moves. This brings us to the next one…

Drink responsibly– don’t spill!
If you are drinking at an event, please drink responsibly. Know your limits and be sure you have assigned a designated driver for the evening. If everyone in your group is drinking, arrange for a friend to pick you up after the show, call a cab, or use services such as Uber to make it home safely. There are no excuses here.

Don’t stand in the aisles
Not only can this be a serious safety issue, but aisles are busy passageways. You standing in the middle of one with your fist in the air while people are trying to get to their seats or back out to the concourse is a major inconvenience. Not to mention, you paid for specific seats, and standing in the aisle may be blocking the view of someone who paid to be in the section you are trying to gain access to.

Woo-Girls/Woo-Guys/FREEBIRD!
Concerts are exciting, and we encourage you to display your excitement before, during, and after the events you attend. However, yelling at the top of your lungs the entire time can be a bit excessive and sure to annoy the other fans around you. Definitely express how great the show is with a few exclamations, but remember that while you are yelling, woo-ing, or screaming “FREEBIRD!” after every song (this stopped being funny at least 20 years ago, by the way) both you and those around you probably cannot hear the show everyone paid their hard earned cash to see.

Basically, everything boils down to realizing you are one of many people at a concert and that your behavior could impact the experience of others. Be mindful of your surroundings, nice to your neighbors, and have a great time. We want everyone to have the best experience possible while they are here, and pleasant fan-to-fan interaction goes a long way toward helping that happen.

Now it is your turn. Did we nail it? Did we get it all completely wrong? Do you agree with some of it, but the rest is way off base? Did we miss something? We want to know your thoughts. Tell us in the comments below, and let’s keep this conversation going.

SMG Director of Marketing Lynne Ike Honored with WGVU Engage I HAVE Made a Difference Award

Lynne Ike, SMG Director of Marketing for Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall, was awarded yesterday with the 2014 WGVU Engage I HAVE Made a Difference Award as an outstanding individual in the Arts category.

The WGVU Engage I HAVE Made a Difference Awards are awarded to one individual and one non-profit organization that best exemplifies outcomes in the five WGVU Engage areas of focus and overall excellence in support of our community. The categories include Inclusion, Health, Arts, Veterans, Education, People’s Choice, Non-Profit of the Year and Person of the Year, and are judged by a group of panelists representing the WGVU Engage Committee, WGVU Public Media, and the community.

Lynne Ike has been chair of the WGVU Engage Arts Committee for two years, and has strived to create opportunities for young people to experience the arts. She facilitated a trip, complete with boxed lunches, to a Grand Rapids Symphony Pops concert for children from D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s Home, and is currently working to bring children from this organization to a Grand Rapids Symphony Holiday Pops concert. Her efforts also enabled local veterans and their families to attend a Sesame Street Live performance at Van Andel Arena last year.

Lynne is active with the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority’s Community Inclusion Group (CIG), which strives to bring diverse entertainment to Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall. Her efforts with CIG include working with various West Michigan communities to raise awareness of events and to create a welcoming atmosphere at the venues, as well as at other businesses downtown, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other establishments.

 

Tweet a congratulations to Lynne: Tweet

With Time Comes Change: New Video Board Installed

Van Andel Arena turned 17 years old this year, and with age comes change and the need for upgrades. If you haven’t made it to a Grand Rapids Griffins game at the SMG-managed arena yet this fall, you’ll notice something new the next time you visit. In early October, installation of a brand new video board began at the south end of the arena in order to enhance the experience of fans and guests.

The new widescreen video board is approximately 698 square feet (15.6’ x 44.72’) and displays advanced viewing angles with 3-in-1 LED pixels for a high quality picture regardless of where you are in the arena. It is capable of displaying both high definition and standard definition video that can be divided across the screen, allowing for multiple frames to be displayed simultaneously. The Daktronics screen is an upgrade from the previous video system that was much smaller and could only display standard definition video.

From video replays to advertisements and informational video clips, the new screen’s size, versatility and crystal clear picture quality will demand the attention of everyone in the audience, including those at the far end of the arena. Fans who attended the Grand Rapids Griffins’ home-opener this season were able to catch the first glimpse of the board as it was debuted during the game on October 18th, the same night as the Griffins' AHL Calder Cup Championship banner raising ceremony. The screen will be utilized during all home Griffins games and other sporting events at the arena.

SMG Named Private Manager of McCormick Place Complex in Chicago, Illinois

The Metropolitan Pier and Exhibition Authority (MPEA) has selected SMG, the global leader in convention, arena and stadium management, as private manager of its McCormick Place Complex. The complex includes 9 million square feet in six buildings and is the nation's largest convention center.

"We are proud to have been selected and look forward to working with the Authority to forward their reform agenda," explained Wes Westley, SMG president and chief executive officer. "SMG has both the experience and success to enhance Chicago's draw as a world-class convention destination."

SMG was chosen following a highly competitive bid process for its focus on cost reductions and customer experience enhancements. The company reiterated its large market experience, industry relationships, CVB partnerships and labor relations expertise as hallmarks of its approach to McCormick Place.

Also announced today was the re-appointment of David Causton as General Manager of the facility. "David is an industry leader who has successfully led the most recent efforts to enhance the customer experience at McCormick Place. We are thrilled to have him as part of the SMG team and know that the continuity he will provide will ensure a seamless transition to private management," noted Westley.

SMG is responsible for the management and marketing of more than 220 public assembly facilities worldwide. The company has built a specialized Convention Center Division, including 67 convention and exhibition centers. SMG's seasoned executive team works actively with municipalities, convention bureaus and hospitality partners in offering first class service and fully integrated management and marketing systems. At 2.6 million square feet of prime exhibit space, McCormick Place is the nation's largest convention facility.

"Chicago is one of the nation's most attractive trade show markets because of its size, space, location and the recent reforms put in place," said Gregg Caren, senior vice president of strategic business development. "Having the expertise to manage the facility is critical but understanding how to enhance the customer experience through relationships and industry partnerships is where SMG differentiates itself."

About SMG
Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 12 million square feet (1.2 million square meters) of exhibition space and over 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston's Reliant Park and the Louisiana Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering company SAVOR, currently serving more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information visit http://www.smgworld.com/.

Van Andel Arena and SAVOR Proudly Announce “The Chef’s Knife”

A New Carving Cart in Van Andel Arena’s Amway Section A

Van Andel Arena announces a new carving cart, The Chef’s Knife, located in Amway Section A, Van Andel Arena’s new concourse expansion area. The carving cart will feature fresh and local products from Michigan Turkey producers during all Griffins games and the majority of events at Van Andel Arena. The food is prepared by SAVOR… Grand Rapids, Catering by SMG’s Executive Chef Chris Simpson, as well as his staff. All items featured at The Chef’s Knife are $9.00 each. The Chef’s Knife made its debut Sunday, February 20th at the Griffins vs. Rivermen game, the Griffins won 4 to 2.

The delectable items featured at The Chef’s Knife, include:

• The Carved Turkey Grinder - hand carved turkey breast piled high on a sour dough roll with cherry chutney and pesto mayo.
• Smoked Turkey Thigh- Each thigh is hand rubbed with our Chef's own secret spices then slow smoked for 6 hours. The hand pulled turkey is packed into a sub roll with apple coleslaw and your choice of sweet or zesty BBQ sauce.
• Griffins Jumbo Wing - Jumbo turkey wings rubbed with ancho chili spice and fire roasted; served with southwest ranch dipping sauce or sweet BBQ.
• Turkey Sticks- Slow smoked turkey legs with a mild spice rub and a robust hickory smoke; served lightly glazed with Chef's own sweet sauce.

SMG offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering company SAVOR, currently serving more than 100 accounts worldwide. Savor Catering by SMG’s food and beverage expertise extends from elegantly catered events for up to 10,000 guests to thematic portable food carts, exquisite suite presentations and permanent concession stands designed to create a memorable experience for all of our patrons. Savor Catering by SMG raises the bar for culinary excellence for patrons, meeting planners and special events. By placing emphasis on freshness, quality, and customer care, we ensure that only the finest service is provided. Savor Catering by SMG displays detail in presentation, menu selections and decor to incorporate an ambiance and flavor for each unique event.