Lionel Richie Opens Acrisure Amphitheater With Concert on Friday, City Pushes Park-and-Walk Strategy for Concertgoers

Lionel Richie To Headline Opening Night at New Acrisure Amphitheater on Friday

Lionel Richie will mark opening night at the new Acrisure Amphitheater Friday, May 15. The concert performance draws attention to a major new entertainment venue in downtown Grand Rapids that officials say can hold more than 12,000 people.

City leaders are urging concert-goers to start planning now for how they will get to the downtown venue.

Parking Reality Check

Officials say parking directly next to the amphitheater likely won't be realistic for most people on opening night.

Instead, the City of Grand Rapids is pushing a park and walk strategy while also encouraging people to use buses, rideshares, bikes and park-and-ride lots.

There is plenty of available parking within a half mile of the venue, said Mobile GR Strategic Initiatives Manager Max Gillis during a city press conference.

City officials say their analysis found roughly 8,800 parking spaces within a half-mile of the amphitheater, even during the busiest nights downtown.

City Transportation Options

The city has launched a new online guide showing transportation options for major downtown venues, including reservable parking ramps, DASH shuttle routes and designated rideshare zones.

People can reserve parking ahead of time at city-owned and private lots, with city-operated ramps capped at $25 on event nights.

Ticket holders can choose their event date on the city's online platform. A map will display current rates at available lots. Those interested are encouraged to look at spaces as soon as possible, as prices have been fluctuating since the online platform launched.

DASH Shuttle and Bus Updates

The DASH shuttle will also run every eight minutes on event nights, connecting downtown parking areas to the amphitheater. A streamlined new route was introduced last week.

Bus lines on The Rapid will also run two hours later than normal on amphitheater event days.

Rideshare Restrictions

For people hoping to use Uber or Lyft, the city says pickups and drop-offs will only be allowed on the Fulton Street Bridge during event nights. The city plans to use geofencing to restrict rideshare traffic closer to the venue.

Parking on the Fulton Street Bridge will be off-limits for anyone who is not a rideshare driver.

Free Park-and-Ride Options

The city is also promoting free park-and-ride options at locations including Woodland Mall, Alpine Walmart, Standale Meijer and the Rapid lot near 60th Street and Division Avenue.

Park at any of those free lots and hop on a complimentary Rapid shuttle to Central Station, just a six-minute walk from the amphitheater.

Officials Acknowledge Skepticism

Officials acknowledge some residents remain skeptical about downtown parking congestion, especially on nights with multiple large events. But city leaders say they're confident the system in place can handle the crowds.

Despite the confidence, they are planning to adjust operations as feedback comes in.

We're really intentionally focused on making sure we learn from each and every event night throughout this season, so that we can adapt and change quickly, Gillis said.

Anyone with feedback on the current parking and transportation system can share it with mobilegr@grcity.us or call 311.