16 replies to this topic

[GRDadof3]

Van Andel Arena was rated the highest grossing arena of its size by Billboard Magazine, again. In today's business journal (you have to have a login):

http://www.grbj.com/GRBJ/Nav/Login.htm?Art...5-144D784DA418}

Edited by GRDadof3, 12 September 2005 - 07:08 AM.

[snoogit]

Just another indicator that Grand Rapids is ready to host a professional sports team

[publius]

Don't have free access to the online GRBJl ( wish gemini would be more accomodating to free online access like the grpress). Does the article indicate at all whether the majority of revenue is from sports or other events? Would love to see them add the circle of seating at the straight side to increase capacity, but realize its wasted space for concert-type events, since noone wants to sit behind the stage

[GRDadof3]

publius, on Sep 12 2005, 10:25 AM, said:

Don't have free access to the online GRBJl ( wish gemini would be more accomodating to free online access like the grpress).  Does the article indicate at all whether the majority of revenue is from sports or other events?  Would love to see them add the circle of seating at the straight side to increase capacity, but realize its wasted space for concert-type events, since noone wants to sit behind the stage

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here is some of the breakdown:

Total Gross: $7,8 Mil
$1.43 Mil surplus in the just-completed fiscal year
Has never suffered a loss since opening in 1996
117 events, 647,000 paying attendees
Concerts are bread and butter, bringing in $65,000 avg each
Has been on Billboards Top 5 since 1998 (2nd place twice, 3rd once, and 5th last year)
Also Pollstar rating went from 40th last year to 15th this year
The only venues this size that topped VAA in gross revenues were:

Brisbaine Entertainment Center, Brisbaine, Australia
National Exhibition Center, Birmingham, England

Source: GRBJ, Billboard Magazine

[zenstyle]

Wow!
The only time we've attended an event at the arena was for Opera Grand Rapids' production of "Aida" some years ago. We were dressed to the nines for that faaaaabulously gala affair!
I'll always associate the place with high heels.
We would go more often, if bands played there that we actually like (Pink Martini, The Dresden Dolls, Paris Combo.)

[Rizzo]

snoogit, on Sep 12 2005, 08:54 AM, said:

Just another indicator that Grand Rapids is ready to host a professional sports team

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yah the Orlando Magic would come to mind.

[hood]

How many seats are in it?

[Rizzo]

something like 11,000 or so...

[GRDadof3]

A little over 10,000 for sporting events, and as high as 12,790 for concerts, with two levels of corporate suites.







Basically a mini Palace of Auburn Hills, without a complete bowl on the upper level.

[F-L-A]

Rizzo, on Sep 13 2005, 12:49 PM, said:

Yah the Orlando Magic would come to mind.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They aren't relocating. Try the Hornets. Their attendance is probably near 10,000 anyway...

[GaryP]

Looks like the Van Andel Arena is a little short of capacity for an NBA team. Maybe it could get there if the addition was completed, but would any one really like to see a team here anyway? I wouldnt unless the city didnt have to put any money into it. Plus if we do see a team I'm guessing it would be hockey.

Edited by GaryP, 14 September 2005 - 10:35 AM.

[mpchicago]

GRDadof3, on Sep 13 2005, 06:27 PM, said:

A little over 10,000 for sporting events, and as high as 12,790 for concerts, with two levels of corporate suites.

Did anyone notice that this rendering posted by GRdad shows the arena with one detail that was not included in the final design? In the rendering you will notice that the exposed structural steel along the top front of the building shows “portholes.” It always kind of bugged me that they didn’t include that detail in the final design. That area of the building looks pretty bland as built. I’m sure it had to do with cost overruns.

[mpchicago]

GaryP, on Sep 14 2005, 11:34 AM, said:

Looks like the Van Andel Arena is a little short of capacity for an NBA team.  Maybe it could get there if the addition was completed, but would any one really like to see a team here anyway?  I wouldnt unless the city didnt have to put any money into it.  Plus if we do see a team I'm guessing it would be hockey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the expansion of the arena would put sport events capacity around 15K. That might be just sufficient for an NBA franchise.

[snoogit]

mpchicago, on Sep 14 2005, 11:56 AM, said:

I think the expansion of the arena would put sport events capacity around 15K.  That might be just sufficient for an NBA franchise.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

With Miami's Arena at 15,200 I think GR wouldnt even be the smallest in the NBA if they added on to the blank wall.

[superNOVA]

It would be fine. The fact that it would have more sky boxes than most arenas would make it even more ideal. Sky box seats pay the home team only, all other ticket sales are split between arena, home, and away teams.

Hence the huge push to get more and more boxes into arenas.

[GaryP]

Yeah, they have to have those boxes nowadays. I was thinking they could do an entire wall of them on the blank southern end, but those seats would really end up being pretty crappy.

[snoogit]

Heh, I have seen what a wall of skyboxes looks like (Ford Field) Its not all that appealing.