THE ROCKETS to Open For Bob Seger at Grand Rapids Date

Detroit-Natives to Warm Up the Van Andel Arena Crowd on May 28

Finishing up what could be his last tour ever, Bob Seger has announced that rock veterans The Rockets will be opening up the performance when he visits Van Andel Arena for a second time in as many months on Saturday, May 28th.

The show begins at 8PM and a limited number of tickets are still available. Tickets are $72.50 and are available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 1- 800-745-3000.

Natives of Detroit, The Rockets formed in 1972 and released five studio albums which offered several hits including “Oh Well,” a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s original. With founding members, Johnny “Bee” Bandajek and Joe McCarty, The Rockets have always been a popular name in Detroit and around Michigan, especially in the 70s and early 80s. In 2010, The Rockets were honored at the Detroit Music Awards with the Distinguished Achievement Award.

The Rockets have already opened for Seger earlier in the week for the first of his three dates at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Showing his allegiance to Michigan-bred artists, Seger has also featured Battle Creek-native Frankie Ballard as an opener for several shows. Ballard opened for Seger during their last stop in Grand Rapids last April.

Spotlight Saturday Grand Opening This Weekend

If you're looking for Urban Social Entertainment in an upscale downtown setting, then the 5/3 Bank Vault is for you! Grand Rapids' most in-demand urban dj, PJ the DJ, will be spinning a mix of adult hip hop, R&B, reggae, Jazz, neo-soul and more...

Come out and experience the best in urban night life!

This event is hosted by Lacy Jones and Jermaine Prebbles!!! Sponsored by Holla Bakk Entertainment. This is a 21 & up event. No sports attire allowed.

Saturday, May 21 at 9PM-2AM
Van Andel Arena 5/3 Bank Vault
Tickets $10

VEE Corporation Announces A Musical & Imaginative 2011-2012 Tour Season

Including 1st Sesame Street Live Tour to Mainland China

As VEE Corporation raises the curtain on its 32nd touring season, we are delighted to announce Elmo and friends will be coming back to Grand Rapids. “Elmo Makes Music” will be taking the Van Andel Arena Stage from Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13.

Tickets are $14.50, $18.50, $24.50, $32.50 (Gold Circle), and $57.50 (Sunny Seats). However, opening night tickets are all $14.50 excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 16 at 10am. Tickets may be purchased at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Groups of 10 or more receive a $3 discount per ticket (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats). For group discounted tickets, please call 616.742.6185 or email groupsales@smggr.com.

For this first time in its distinguished history, Sesame Street Live will also commence an eight-week tour of Mainland China with “Elmo’s Green Thumb”. Opening June 26, Sesame Street Live will perform at the finest theatres in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Chongqing, Wuhan, Henan, Hefei, Changzhou, Wenzhou, Qingdao and Yantai. Performances will be presented in Mandarin and/or English based on local preferences. The production will then transfer to Singapore for a multi-show run in that territory where it has toured previously.

The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families, produced in partnership with VEE, is an around-the-world tour exclusively for military families on bases. The fifth installment kicked off on April 14 in Columbus, Ohio with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. This USO tour, created to help military children deal with the challenges of deployment and homecomings, is based on Sesame Workshop’s award winning Talk, Listen, Connect (TLC) initiative. Stops on this tour include Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Korea, Turkey, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Spain.

VEE is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with Sesame Workshop to create and produce Sesame Street Live, the longest running touring production for children in history. Like the award-winning television show on which it is based, Sesame Street Live uses the power of Muppets to teach critical skills such as literacy, math, healthy habits, and respect for others – all while entertaining in a positive, family-friendly way.

For the most up-to-date information, visit http://www.sesamestreetlive.com/. For a full schedule of the performances in Grand Rapids, go to http://www.vanandelarena.com/.

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/.

East Meets West Gospel Showcase (CANCELED)

*** The event is canceled. Purchased tickets may be refunded at the point of purchase.

Friday, May 13th
7:30 PM- 9:30 PM: Showcase & Competition ($15 & $30, + $2 the day-of-show)
10 PM- midnight: After Glow Party ($10)

Saturday, May 14th
10 AM- 12 PM: Southern Gospel Jazz Brunch with special guest, Shekinah Glory ($20)
12:30 PM- 3 PM: Showcase & Competition ($15 & $30, + $2 the day-of-show)
6 PM- 9 PM: Grand Jazz of West Michigan ($10)

-VIP Weekend Package ($75)

East Meets West Gospel Showcase and Competition
Special performances and Celebrity Judges include:

• Shekinah Glory from the first ever two-time Gold Recording Gospel Choir.


• Twinkie Clark of the Legendary Clark Sisters


• Neechy from The Word Network TV Show, Neechy is Rockin Featured in Sister to Sister Magazine


• Ryan Rutley, President of the Psalms Group Recording Label- Detroit Michigan with distribution through Universal Records.


• Laurelle from JQ 99.3


• Affinity`and The Issac

East Meets West Southern Gospel Jazz Brunch
Begin the last day of the Inaugural East Meets West Gospel Showcase and Competition with a brunch to sing for! Featuring a Special Performance by Shekinah Glory Ministries, the fun only begins here!

Grand Jazz of West Michigan
A true Jazz-lover's concert event! Six local jazz artists from West Michigan will showcase their awesome talent at 'Grand Jazz of West Michigan'. The three-hour event will allow us to showcase the Jazz culture, music and other musical organizations from our city to all West Michigan music lovers. Jazz up your night with a little music and dancing while supporting local artists! This is an event you don't want to miss...

East Meets West After Glow Party
Finish a great first night of Michigan's finest Gospel at the official East Meets West After Glow Party inside Van Andel Arena's Fifth Third Bank Vault. Put the cherry on top of your night while listening to a live Jazz set and hang out with many of the evenings' attendees.

*Dates, times, & prices subject to change.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey present BARNUM 200

Ladies and Gentlemen…Children Of All Ages… The Greatest Show On Earth just got Greater with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents BARNUM 200. Featuring 130 performers from six continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids, BARNUM 200 is a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it!

This monumental, once in a lifetime event celebrates The Biggest Birthday Bash in Circus History that can only be experienced at The Greatest Show On Earth, Barnum’s living legacy! Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson invites the audience to leap aboard the Ringling Bros. Express and go on a family FUNtastic adventure to meet exotic characters and witness thrilling performances that attempt to answer “What special wonders create The Greatest Show On Earth?”

Step right up and see the Flying Caceres attempt to complete the elusive quadruple somersault on the flying trapeze; a feat that hasn’t been mastered in over three decades. Watch the Puyang Troupe from China dazzle with a stunning display of dexterity as they bounce, flip, and twirl to new heights on a two tiered trampoline. Be amazed as you witness the impossible contortions of the body benders who fit three humans in a cube the size of a milk crate. Enjoy the wondrous ability of the Mighty Metal, the strongest man in the world as he lifts over 1,200 pounds. And savor the stupendous skills of the hand balancers featuring Duo Fusion, a married pair of performers with a twist; the wife does the heavy lifting.

The thrills continue as you cast your eyes above at the Sky High Ice Gliders who take the high wire to new extremes and in new directions, from horizontal to nearly vertical, combining intricate acrobatic skills and extreme agility as they execute flips, perform splits, and even walk while balancing their partners on their head. Rev up the energy as the Torres Family blast around inside a 16-foot diameter steel globe with seven motorcycles at speeds up to 65-miles an hour with only inches to spare between them in The Spherical Miracle.

In addition to treasured Asian elephants, the most of any circus in North America, BARNUM 200 features a dazzling array of exotic animals you cannot see together anywhere else including horses, ponies, llamas, Pygmy and Nubian goats, tigers and even a rare Watusi. So get your ticket today and hop on board the Ringling Bros. Express at BARNUM 200 for an un-miss-able, colossal, historic extravaganza.

Dates:
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Ticket Pricing:
Circus Celebrity: $68
Front Row: $41
VIP: $30
$25
$20
$15
Opening Night Special: $12 for all seating excluding the top 3 ticket prices.

Scouts save for the Friday at 7:00 PM Performance!
Contact groupsales@smggr.com or call 616-742-6185 for additional details.
Discount expires: Sept. 8, 2011.

Groups of 10 or more save $4 per ticket on the Friday at 7:00 PM performance as well as the Saturday at 11 AM & 7:00 PM performances for the $30, $25, $20, & $15 tickets!
Contact groupsales@smggr.com or call 616-742-6185.
Discount expires: Sept. 8, 2011.

Tickets go on sale April 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM. Tickets may be purchased at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, all ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000.

Iconic Mötley Crüe back on the Road Headlining Summer Tour

Legendary glam-rock band Mötley Crüe is headlining their summer tour with support from fellow legendary bands Poison and special guests New York Dolls—all of whom will be celebrating particular anniversaries. The tour sets stage in Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, August 3 at 7:00 PM.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 15th at 10 AM and will be available through ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, or charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000. Ticket prices are $35, $55, and $99.50.

Rising to international fame in the early eighties, Mötley Crüe struck a chord with fans worldwide almost immediately. Orchestrating a mixture of heavy metal and glam rock stylings of the time, the iconic band has produced several best-selling albums with sales reaching 80 million worldwide.

Starting with their debut album, 1981’s “Too Fast For Love,” Mötley Crüe produced a string of hit albums throughout the eighties including “Shout at the Devil” (1983), “Theater of Pain” (1985), “Girls, Girls, Girls (1987) and “Dr. Feelgood” (1989). Known for their backstage antics and outrageous clothing, hair, and make-up, Mötley Crüe’s fantastic following has transcended time due in part because of their love of the road—performing in over 30 different tours across the globe. Now, they come back to Grand Rapids to help celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Fellow eighties metal band Poison joins the tour on the heels of their 25th Anniversary release, “Double Dose of Poison: Ultimate Hits.” The two-CD collection will feature 35 of the multi-platinum band’s top hits. But perhaps it is special guest, New York Dolls, who is the most seasoned band on the tour. Forming in 1971, the New York Dolls offered a prelude of what would be the punk-rock era’s Ramones and Blondie with the visual appeal that glam rock bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison would later emulate. With hits going back to 1973, the New York Dolls will be performing in promotion of their latest release, 2011’s “Dancing Backward In High Heels.”

Celtic Woman Trivia Ticket Giveaway

The Celtic Woman trivia ticket giveaway is simple; here are the rules & regulations:

1. You must answer all five questions correctly by March 17 at midnight EST.
   
2. Send your answers, along with your name and e-mail address, to: vaagrmi@yahoo.com. Label the subject as: Celtic Woman Trivia. Please only one submission per individual.
3. The name of every individual who answers all five questions correctly will go in a random drawing to win the 2 free Celtic Woman tickets at Van Andel Arena for April 5^th at 7:30 PM!
4. The winner will be contacted via e-mail on March 21^st with information on how to claim their tickets.
5. Good luck!

Celtic Woman Trivia:

1. What are the names of all four women in Celtic Woman?
2. What’s the name of the newest Celtic Woman singer?
3. Who is the youngest Celtic Woman singer?
4. What is the name of the Celtic Woman’s most recent limited edition c.d.?
5. Who is the musical director of Celtic Woman?

***On St. Patrick’s Day, be sure to view Celtic Woman on the Today Show in the 10 AM hour with Kathie Lee & Hoda!***

Celtic Woman’s #1 Streak Continues as Lullaby Debuts at #1 on Billboard’s World Album and #3 Children’s Album Charts

St. Patrick’s Day Performance on NBC’s Today Show

Multi-platinum Irish music sensation, Celtic Woman, earns their seventh straight No. 1 on Billboard’s World Album chart with the debut release of Lullaby. This also marks the first time Celtic Woman conquers the Top Children’s Album chart with a No. 3 debut. Lullaby also debuted at No. 17 on the Internet Albums chart.

Released on February 15, Lullaby (EMI/Manhattan), is a special limited edition collection of sweet and heartfelt lullabies combining Celtic Woman’s most recognized songs mixed with brand new ones.

Celtic Woman is currently on tour in the U.S through May with a breathtaking new live show performing songs from their critically-acclaimed CD and Emmy-nominated DVD Songs from the Heart. Making stops in over 70 cities, highlights include multiple nights in Baltimore, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Antonio and a St. Patrick’s Day performance on The Today Show and Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Celtic Woman will make a stop in Grand Rapids, performing at Van Andel Arena on April 5^th at 7:30 PM. The April 5^th tickets are available through ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

During the 2011 tour, vocalists Lisa Kelly, Chloë Agnew and newest member Lisa Lambe along with violinist Máiréad Nesbitt capture the hearts of fans with what critics are calling an “uplifting,” “breathlessly dramatic” and “beyond captivating” concert experience.

Songs from the Heart is Celtic Woman's most dazzling production yet, moving seamlessly between Irish classics, contemporary covers and original compositions featuring renditions of Jimmy Webb's "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress," Billy Joel's "Goodnight My Angel," "Amazing Grace," and Irish classics "My Lagan Love," "Galway Bay," as well as a new favorite "Níl Sé'n Lá."

Since their March 2005 debut, this unique all-female ensemble continues to have mainstream success without the aid of traditional sales drivers such as radio or video airplay. No other group of this particular adult contemporary genre can claim over 6 million CDs/DVDs sold worldwide, two Top 10 album debuts on the Billboard Top 200, 3 Gold and Platinum albums, 4 Top 5 releases on the Billboard Top Video chart and over 1.2 million concert tickets sold. They have succeeded by connecting directly to fans via their Public Television specials, their frequent touring and then having those fans share the experience with friends and loved ones.

A true celebration of Ireland with an unforgettable signature style, Celtic Woman, along with a 6 piece band and the Aontas Choir, perform unique renditions of Irish standards, classical favorites and contemporary hits.

For more information please visit, www.Celticwoman.com.

Celtic Woman Trivia Ticket Giveaway

Van Andel Arena is proud to announce the Celtic Woman Ticket Giveaway!

The Celtic Woman trivia ticket giveaway is simple; here are the rules & regulations:

1. There will be five trivia questions posted on March 15 by 10 AM.
   
2. You must answer all five questions correctly by March 17 at midnight EST.
3. Send your answers, along with your name and e-mail address, to: vaagrmi@yahoo.com. Label the subject as: Celtic Woman Trivia. Please only one submission per individual.
   
4. The name of every individual who answers all five questions correctly will go in a random drawing to win the 2 free Celtic Woman tickets at Van Andel Arena for April 5^th at 7:30 PM!
   
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail on March 21^st with information on how to claim their tickets.