Not Everyone Is Happy With Acrisure Amphitheater Noise Policy
Some Grand Rapids residents can hear concerts from the new amphitheater more than a mile away.
Kathrine Force lives about a mile away from the venue and heard shows all night during the opening weekend.
"After opening night and realizing I was hearing three Lionel Richie songs in a row from my back porch, and it wasn't somebody parked down my alley with a loud car," Force said.
Grand Rapids has a noise ordinance but the amphitheater is exempt from the rule. A city spokesperson told News 8 shows will end at 11 p.m. unless given permission to extend because of weather delays or other reasons.
Force acknowledges while no rules were broken, she's concerned about the bigger picture.
"Our taxes went to funding these projects and now we're not benefiting from them. A lot of us are failing to see where the economic boost is going to come from for us," Force said.
There were fans who live near the structure and liked the music they heard.
"We never had nothing like that before down here so it's like that's something new," Ideia Ellison, Grand Rapids resident, said. "I love hearing the bass of the music and the beats, it's good beats!"
Like it or not, this weekend is the start of dozens of shows scheduled at the venue until late September.
The amphitheater hosted its first show with Lionel Richie performing Friday night. The concert ended just before 11 p.m. after the opening act.
What The Policy Means For Neighbors
The noise exemption allows Acrisure Amphitheater to operate without following the city's standard noise restrictions that apply to other events and venues.
Acrisure Amphitheater is located on the city's waterfront and sits near residential neighborhoods to the north and west.
The exemption is tied to the venue's permanent structure and distinguishes it from temporary concert setups throughout the city.
City officials say the exemption helps the venue compete with other large-scale concert destinations in the region.
Residents say the exemption raises questions about property values and quality of life in nearby neighborhoods.
The amphitheater has dozens of shows scheduled through late September as part of its opening season.
Community Impact Remains Uncertain
Force and other residents near the venue say they're waiting to see if the economic benefits match the disruption.
The amphitheater is one of several large venues opening in the downtown area over the past year.
Some residents have expressed concern about traffic and parking in addition to noise levels.
The venue's management has not responded to requests for comment on the noise exemption policy.
Residents continue to monitor the situation as the concert season begins in earnest.