‘A Dream’: How Amway Stadium and Growing GR Soccer Scene Excite Locals, Boost Economy
Author: Shandra Martinez for GR& Riverfront
Homegrown soccer player and coach Brad Dunwell calls Grand Rapids’ new stadium “a dream.” The multi-purpose venue will host soccer, lacrosse, and other community events, spurring regional economic growth.
As Grand Rapids prepares to break ground on its long-awaited soccer stadium, local leaders, athletes, and residents see it as more than just a new home for professional soccer. It’s a way to spur growth on multiple levels, including economic progress, youth engagement, and regional tourism.
Brad Dunwell has always dreamed of having a professional soccer team in his hometown. The Grand Rapids native grew up playing the sport and excelled at Forest Hills Northern and Wake Forest University before playing professionally. Now, he’s on the coaching track after becoming head coach of Detroit City FC II and assisting the first team.
He had an opportunity to offer a player’s perspective to the stadium developers and shared ideas about the design that could promote interaction between the athletes and their fans.
“I’m excited to see how close the fans will be to the players,” Dunwell said. “Because there’s not a track, the stands are nice and tight to the field. Also, they could design the tunnel so the fans could get high-fives as the players walk on and off the field. Just getting fans as close as possible is in everyone’s interest.
“But overall, this is just a really, really exciting time for soccer in Grand Rapids.”
Amway Stadium, set to open in 2027, is expected to drive economic development, expand opportunities for young athletes, and attract large-scale events that benefit businesses across the region.
The new venue will be more than just a soccer stadium. It’s designed to be a multi-purpose facility that serves the broader community. While it will be home to an MLS NEXT Pro team, it could also be available for high school and collegiate championship games, lacrosse, rugby, and marching band competitions, as well as an endless list of community opportunities – much of which have yet to even be imagined. Tourism officials and business leaders believe the stadium will generate millions in visitor spending, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.
The 8.2-acre stadium site is just west of the Grand River, within Grand Rapids’ vibrant core, an ideal spot for year-round activities and community use. The 8,500-seat venue, a $175 million investment, is part of a larger effort to shape the future of downtown that includes the highly anticipated Acrisure Amphitheater.
The stadium will feature an open plaza designed for pre-game gatherings and seamless entry. Inside, tiered seating will offer a range of options and price points, including suites and loge boxes. An open concourse will keep fans connected to the action from every angle.
The open-air venue is expected to appeal to big-scale events beyond sports, such as concerts and corporate gatherings, furthering Grand Rapids’ status as an entertainment hub. It follows the models of successful mixed-use sports venues in other cities that have improved urban districts and lifted local economies.
The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) will own and operate the stadium, adding to its portfolio of premier venues that includes Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, and DeVos Performance Hall.
Brad Dunwell - Grand Rapids native and pro soccer player.
Nurturing the Local Soccer Scene
Dunwell’s father, Jay, sees the stadium as a new chapter for the city’s soccer community. He has grown into a longtime supporter of the sport. The president of Wolverine Coil Spring Co. has watched the local soccer scene grow alongside his family’s involvement.
“There was always talk about a professional soccer team coming to Grand Rapids, but now it’s real,” Jay Dunwell said. “For soccer families like ours, it’s thrilling to see it finally happening.”
Jay Dunwell’s journey into soccer was not direct. He grew up as a hockey player and initially guided his children toward the sport he loved. But when his younger son expressed a stronger passion for soccer, Jay put away his hockey coaching whistle and picked up a camera, finding a way of engaging with this new game through his hobby of photography.
Just as Jay’s exposure to soccer led him to love the game, Brad believes that the new stadium will ignite a passion in the community.
"To be able to see a high standard of soccer has a huge impact, not just as community entertainment, but also for young players who can see it, feel it, and maybe dream it,” said Brad. “It’s a whole different animal watching games in person, feeling the environment, the pressure. It’s something special.
“Whether you’re a proper soccer junkie or just a casual fan, this will be an inclusive environment where everyone can come out, enjoy the game, and have a great night in Grand Rapids."
The stadium is expected to strengthen community engagement with soccer by showing young athletes a clear path to professional careers. Brad Dunwell believes it will inspire the next generation of players in Grand Rapids.
“Being able to go to games and see professionals play in their hometown will help young players dream bigger,” he said. “It’s going to push them to become the players they see on the field today, hopefully even better.”
The Michigan Futbol Academy is expected to use the venue for training and competitions, further integrating the city into the national soccer landscape.
“The academy is going to be in a really good place,” Dunwell said. “I’d be excited to see players that those guys have worked with grow into the professional team that is set to come.”
“Being able to go to games and see professionals play in their hometown will help young players dream bigger. It’s going to push them to become the players they see on the field today, hopefully even better.”
Amway Stadium - home of West Michigan Pro Soccer.
Enhancing Region’s Image and Economy
Mike Guswiler - President of the West Michigan Sports Commission
With expectations for the stadium to bring significant economic benefits to Grand Rapids, Mike Guswiler, president of the West Michigan Sports Commission, emphasized the broader impact the venue will have on the region.
“Having a facility like this not only adds another professional sports team, but it also gives us a space we can market to attract additional sporting events,” Guswiler said.
Local universities, including Grand Valley State University, Calvin University, Davenport University, Cornerstone University, and Aquinas College, have partnered with the West Michigan Sports Commission over the years to host regional and national tournaments in various sports. The soccer stadium could serve to attract more of these tournaments to the area.
“GLIAC and MIAA (collegiate conferences) are looking for a neutral site to host championship games,” Guswiler said. “This stadium could become a premier location for those events.”
The stadium is part of broader efforts to enhance Grand Rapids as a sports tourism destination. The West Michigan Sports Commission reports $90 million in sports-related visitor spending last year. That number is on track to increase with the addition of the new stadium.
Janet Korn, senior vice president of marketing for Experience Grand Rapids, sees the stadium as part of a larger effort to make the city more attractive to both visitors and residents.
“Projects like the soccer stadium enhance the overall quality of life while also attracting visitors,” Korn said. “These developments make Grand Rapids a more exciting and vibrant place.”
A recent study commissioned by Experience Grand Rapids found that exposure to the city’s tourism advertising improves public perception of Grand Rapids as a desirable place to live, work, and do business. The 2024 report shows that visitors who see the marketing efforts and then experience the destination firsthand develop a significantly more positive impression of the area.
“People don’t know what they don’t know,” Korn said. “Once they visit, their perception of Grand Rapids improves dramatically. Investments in projects like the soccer stadium help build on that momentum.”
Korn also noted that the stadium could contribute to Grand Rapids’ ability to attract large-scale conferences and events.
“We see this trend in our meeting sales as well,” she said. “If we can get someone to visit Grand Rapids for a conference, their likelihood of booking another event here increases significantly. Assets like the soccer stadium and the amphitheater add to our appeal as a destination.”
The timing of the stadium's construction, and introduction of a professional team, is also ideal, coinciding with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to generate widespread interest in soccer across the United States.
“The World Cup is coming, and it’s only going to boost everything happening with the sport,” Brad Dunwell said. “Grand Rapids is going to ride that wave, and this stadium is a huge part of it.”
The anticipation continues to build among fans, players, and community leaders as Grand Rapids positions itself as a top-tier destination for sports. The new stadium will become an important feature of the city’s future.
“This stadium is more than just a place for soccer,” Guswiler said. “It’s a community asset that will bring people together and create lasting economic benefits. Grand Rapids is ready for this moment.”
“This stadium is more than just a place for soccer. It’s a community asset that will bring people together and create lasting economic benefits. Grand Rapids is ready for this moment.”
Downtown Grand Rapids.
