First time here was to see Journey on their final tour. I don't normally review places like this but the outstanding customer service deserves a review. I was sitting in the upper level and the whole building was vibrating from the music which caused an issue for me. Went and asked customer service if they could offer a solution so I didn't have to keep getting up and disturbing the other people in the row. They relocated me and were very kind. read more

Huge arena. A lot of spots for snacks and drinks. However, expensive for drinks and snacks, it wasn't half bad. Just an extremely lack of parking for big events. Might need a lot of extra time to figure out where to park. read more

Been to Van andel a few times now for concerts and a hockey game for the GR Griffins. Parking on a Friday night is usually a challenge if trying to find street parking but lots of garages/lots around for 10-20$ for the evening which are all pretty close by. Entrance/security has always been pretty easy and convenient. I just wish they had more food options inside the arena. Lots of beer, cocktails, canned drink options with arena pricing. Food options included popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, nachos and other snack kind of foods. I usually just plan to eat before or after the show or game. Thankfully, in the heart of downtown with lots of options for dinner. read more

Van Andel Arena - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I think this is my first or second time EVER in the Van Andel arena, and let me tell you... I despise this space. Yesterday, we went to Disney on Ice, what was supposed to be a fun mommy daughter day with a friend quickly devolved into a layer of Dante's Inferno. I wish I was exaggerating. It started off fine enough. We found free street parking a few blocks away, SCORE! We took the skywalk across and attempted to pass through security when a rude security guard singled out my friend and declared she could not pass because her small purse were not the correct dimensions to pass through. Never mind that we were 5 minutes from the show starting. Never mind that other people with similar looking sized purses were passing through unscathed. My friend asked if she could empty her cloth purse, fold it up in her pocket to enter and they rudely reiterated the rules and said that was unacceptable. My friend and I put her bag into the "measurement box" and it FIT. They said it wasn't allowed because the cloth bag folded up on itself and that's not allowed. Our children were getting antsy and the show had already started by the time management showed up to say that it is against Van Andel policy to bring in a bag of that size. She said it was clearly marked everywhere (though there was no sign at the entrance). Then, when my friend pointed out that others were bringing in much larger bags without issue, she was told, by JJ the manager, that she was a LIAR and not being truthful and that THOSE were diaper bags??!! Okay... All this fuss ended when my friend decided after spending lots of money on these stupid Disney on Ice tickets, to throw away her purse she bought in Spain. So we could finally see the show as the only other alternative was to walk the blocks back to our car to store it and we were already made 10 minutes late when we should've been 5 minutes early. The woman checking us in, was also mean and rude. She told my friend that we were "having a bad day." My friend, needed to take all the items she had removed from her purse that she was basically forced to throw away in order for us to go see this sh*t show of lower caliber ice skaters dressed as Disney characters. My friend was searching for the tickets on her phone and we had to find our own seating section because NONE of the staff was helpful and everyone working there looked grumpy and bitter about having this security job where you work on Saturday's. Finally, we are inside. This place is a concrete jungle with steep steps to the nose bleed section (tickets we could afford at $145 for four of us). We were late and the vibe was ruined by these security employees enforcing their power for no understandable reason. We are trying to find our seats. It's dark. I put my phone flashlight on and stumble up the stairs with my 5 year old and my friend's 4 year old and then need to squeeze my way past the other customers to find our middle reserved seats. I was terrified that I was going to fall. The nosebleed section is stacked up on each other without guard rails and the aisle is thin and there is NOTHING to hold onto and balance with. I literally thought I may tumble to my death for this hell trip matinee. Finally, we go to sit, and my hips touch both of the freaking arms on the chair and I had to squeeze my body in. Now, people, I am a size 10-12. Overweight, but not obese. I was rubbing elbows with strangers. This truly was hell. I paid to be demeaned by staff, accused of lying when pointing out injustices that were clearly happening, forced to part with personal property, feared for my life finding my seat and then almost didn't fit into the seat itself! All for the privilege of paying $145 to watch skaters skate to Disney tunes. Cool. Because we were late, the kids didn't know what was going on, and my daughter wanted to leave by the intermission. I cajoled her to stay with stating I would buy her $10 popcorn. As I'm waiting in line I ordered two miller lights, two waters and one popcorn. I paid $60 for those concessions. My mouth almost dropped to the floor after I paid and they did not even have a drink holder for me. So now, I'm walking, taking baby steps, and stating loudly in the hallway of chaos, "Please don't bump into me, I just spent $60 and cannot spill this precious alcohol!" Finally, I somehow made it to my seating and nursed my wounded ego back to health with the healing elixirs of beer. It will be a cold day in hell, before I choose to return to the Van Andel for anything. I don't care if Jesus Christ himself is giving a speech about how to transcend the evils of this world. Today, capitalism failed me so hard. We spent over $200 to be treated worse than cattle. As a customer, I will not willingly EVER return to a place that operates like a police state. If you wonder what fascism feels like, head over to the Van Andel for a show and bring the wrong sized purse. Hard Pass. I want a refund for that part of my life I can't get back. read more

Van Andel Arena - Nosebleed section. We the plebes made the best of a terrible situation today. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This place is awesome. Came all the way from California for two nights of Phish and what a great sounding room for live music. The staff were all super kind. The concourse moved well and had lots of room. The bathroom lines move quickly and let's just say they let Phish fans be Phish fans. Y'all are way better than the minor league hockey arena in Ontario California read more

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I love the Van Andel Arena for various events. It's smaller than some of the Detroit venues I'm used to, but it's so convenient with the skywalk from various hotels. We literally walked from the Amway Grand Hotel in 20 degree weather without wearing coats and never stepped outside. Since this is a smaller venue, it's much easier to find your seat and find the restrooms. As it is with most venues nowadays you aren't allowed to bring in bags and your ticket is on your phone. You do not have to remove your jacket and you do go through a metal detector. We were in town to watch the PBR bull riding event, which is always exciting read more

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Came here last night for the Lindsey Stirling show and it was my first time at this arena. I live in the metro Detroit area, so I'm used to Little Caesars Arena, and before that, the Palace, so compared to those, Van Andel was a breeze to navigate. I had looked up parking information beforehand, and there is a parking lot literally next to it, for $15 for events, and that is where we parked. The show was great, which didn't surprise me, since I'm a big fan of Lindsey Stirling. Be advised that if you have floor seeds, like we did, you don't have to go up the stairs that are there once you enter the arena. We didn't know that, so we ended up going up and then coming back down. At LCA to get to floor seats you have to go to the 100-level and then walk down a ton of steps, here you didn't have to do that assuming you knew where you were going, and there were also bathrooms, conveniently located right by the floor entrance. I have Crohn's so that was a major plus for me. I would definitely come back here to see another show provided it wasn't in the Detroit area either, Lindsey Stirling was only stopping here and Fort Wayne, Indiana in terms of shows that were within driving distance for us. Overall, the arena was very nice and I had a good time there. read more

I've been to Van Andel a handful of times at this point and it's so nice to have an arena in Grand Rapids. We get bigger arena concert tours without having to drive to Detroit or Chicago and tickets are usually reasonable and fairly priced compared to those cities. I love that the Grand Rapids Gold (NBA team Denver Nuggets G-league affiliate) play here now. A HUGE upgrade from when they were playing at the DeltaPlex. I've only sat in the lower bowl for events I've been to here so I cannot speak for upper level seating but the seats are comfortable and cushy and it feels like you have enough room. The negatives: this arena needs some updates. The concourse is pretty dreary and it reminds me of the 90s/early 2000s. The concession options are not great. Also sometimes the sound is not great and it's hard to hear what the announcer is saying. I've had multiple times where I had to lean over to my friend to ask what was said and we both had no clue because it's so muffled. read more

Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids Gold Game - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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We went here to see Trans Siberian Orchestra. They are real stingy on the size of purses and bags. I had to bring in head phone protection to my kids ears. I had to go through different doors and my kids all got upset because me going in through the security. They didn't understand what was going on. We found our seats and got settled in. I won't recommend floor seats again because taller people make it harder to see the stage. But we got them because Papa had a boot from foot surgery and GG knee couldn't do stairs. I wouldn't recommend ever getting drinks or popcorn. Small pop was $9. My hubby got popcorn and other drinks and it was crazy prices. Good thing we ate lunch right before we got there. Kids were still thirsty. Not at those prices. read more

It's a great place to have a concert. We saw Mercy me and we had great seats and felt close to the bands with the big screens. Lots of restrooms and food areas. It's in a great location next to lots of restaurants and parking. read more

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I was pretty underwhelmed. This arena is very bootleg, fold out chairs, no doors. Bathroom was decent.

Came to see Stevie Wonder Heal The Hearts Tour! Loved it! Parking was quick and no backup getting out which was amazing because it was a sold out concert! Police directed traffic and the actual arena was really nice. If ever in the area, plz go! I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. read more

VIP Security workers at Tate McRae were extremely rude and yelled at me trying to get my pass. they made it nearly impossible to the point that i broke down into tears and they screamed at me and said I was being rude even though I was trying to get my tickets. Woman with a purple hair and accent and a chubby girl with short blonde curly hair should be fired immediately! read more

Recently saw Avenged Sevenfold here at Van Andel. We had a great experience! The concert was amazing, and our seats were amazing! The venue was really easy to get in and out of. Parking downtown can be a pain, but there are many options nearby. It's nice you can get DoorDash to your seats. Saw Tool years ago at this arena as well. One of my favorite venues to see concerts. read more

Van Andel Arena - Avenged Sevenfold - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I've never been to the Van Andel Arena until a few months ago for a Justin Bieber concert. I was super impressed! The arena has its own parking, but I ended up finding street parking nearby for free (it's free after 5pm!). The line moved swiftly and the staff was incredibly kind! It didn't take long for me to get to my seat at all. There were also multiple food and merch booths, however, I didn't buy anything from either. I was really surprised by how close my seat was and how great the sound was as well! It was such a fun night and I can't wait to come back for more concerts! read more

Came for the '24 GLI and it would've been cheaper to go watch the Red Wings at LCA!! $21.50 for 1 22 oz beer, $10.50 for a Pepsi $13.00 for McD quality processed chicky tendys and waffle fries so greasy we didn't eat even half of them. Then you are presented with 20,25,30 percent tip options when you pay!! If I have to stand up to a counter to order, carry my own food and gather my own utensils, napkins and condiments did YOU really earn that tip you are asking for? The tip issue is something that applies to most places today not just here. Just cuz you can doesn't mean you should sorta thing. Also the condiments at 2 stations were empty. The bathrooms and building are decent enough but I'll drive to Kalamazoo or Detroit for events and think twice about VanAndel. Very disappointing. read more

For the Grand Rapids area this is the big arena where you will see all the main stream events. We have gone a few times to see bands like the Lumineers and Willy Nelson. We have found that the sound is hit or miss, and the seats aren't super comfortable but it's a smaller arena with a more intimate seating range even if you choose something in the back. The employees are great and the service is always wonderful. They usually have a single stand serving some local beers but it's kind of a nuisance to locate it and then stand in the massive line. Wish they would source locally and serve Grand Rapids beer. Hate all those commercial beers. If I'm gonna pay 8 dollars a beer I want it to actually be good and help the local economy. Overall, it's a great little arena that houses some amazing events for its size and location. read more

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I had a great time at the arena. Getting to parking was easy and the cost of parking for the event was reasonable. Be aware that the venue doesn't allow you to take a purse in. I saw enough people heading back to their vehicle to know I needed to lock mine in the vehicle. Security check was easy. Be aware a bottle of water is $7. There were not enough ushers to direct to seating yet once you figure out the layout and signs you can find your seat. The seats were probably not meant to be sat in over 2 hours and I was there close to 4. The sound was amazing and I had a great view of the stage without being on the floor and without having to watch the big screens. Exiting the event took a while. It took 25 minutes to get out of the parking garage. All in all a great venue. read more

Van Andel Arena - Kat Williams world tour - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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It's a great venue for any artist but JT was late and the selection of a DJ open was terrible.

What an unbelievable experience. After driving in what should have been a 2 1/2 hour drive ended up being almost 4 hours. We arrived to the Panic! At the Disco concert under a winter weather warning. Seriously, a massive snowstorm that dumped about 8-12 inches of snow. The arena was open about 90 minutes before the show which was great because we were also frozen. Security was quick but thorough, we passed through and quickly found our seats. That was the first time I had been at the arena and I was impressed. The seats were upper level but the sound quality was incredible. I would definitely drive 8 hours round trip in what amounted to a blizzard to watch a concert there again. So worth it. read more

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Drove 5 hours to this venue to see one of the greatest country music artists of all time, it is a shame that the venue made it such a sub par experience. For starters, the seats are so uncomfortable and very close together making me sit closer to a stranger than I would like. Secondly the sound was awful, does the venue do soundcheck? Feedback and noticeable changes in volume and pitch made the opening acts unbearable. The worst part was the HEAT. It's the middle of summer and the venue had no AC on and no fans to circulate the air. Multiple compliments from others in my section. Not impressed, sure is a smart way to make money off water sales though. Artist was fantastic but venue needs to do a better job if they want to host platinum artists in the future. read more

I've been to Van Andel Arena more times than I can count, mostly for hockey games, concerts, sporting events, and a random ice skating event here and there. The arena seats 12,000+ and is a good size for the area. Getting in and out for events isn't too bad since it's not a massive place. There is plenty of parking surrounding the arena and is easily walkable from many bars and restaurants, so you can get a bite to eat before your event. Tip: Look for places that accept reservations if you want to go out before a big event. Big concert tours come through Van Andel including Elton John, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Taylor Swift, Cirque du Soleil... the list goes on and on. I have seen about 10 concerts at Van Andel in the past 8 years and I think everything is handled pretty smoothly. I've never noticed any issues with sound at concerts. The restrooms always have someone cleaning them and those lines move pretty quickly. The options for food and drinks are pretty typical (hot dogs, burgers, pizza, snacks, etc.) but prices are decent for this type of venue. There are multiple bars and some options for drinks beyond just beer. The security teams working at Van Andel have always been friendly, polite, and quick to get you through the screenings whenever I've been there. I really enjoy going to events at Van Andel and I think we're really lucky to have this venue in our city. read more

We have come to grand rapids together several times. It is one of our favorite places. But I have only been to this venue twice. He's been here more often. Both times, we came to see our favorite band. The Avett Brothers. This venue is small but that is part of it's charm. The first time we saw the Avett Bros we were center stage, main floor. Unfortunately, it was not as way to see. I am a musician so I enjoy the visible display as much as I enjoy the audio. So the next time, he got us tickets off to the side. They were fantastic! We could see everything! And what a show!! God. They are fantastic. This is a great venue and I'm sure we will be back for more fun! I recommend staying in town so you are within walking distance of the venue and hitting everything possible on the way. grand rapids ia so much fun! read more

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An idea how close the stage was. Small arena would definitely visit if the future for concerts. read more

Van Andel Arena - Section 124 row P seat 16 aisle - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

First time here. I wonder the hell why. Good place to see a show. We saw Hall & Oates with Train and Kandace Springs. Easy entry. Friendly security staff. Maybe too much so as they kept allowing people to wander up to the front and linger. Sorry folks. Get better tickets next time. You didn't pay for the spot(s) in front of me. So go back please. Big pet peeve there. Oh, concert beers. No value there. At all. Large restrooms. However the men's didn't have working towel dispensers. Just loose rolls set out. Uh, gross. Excellent sound quality. The video boards were great, although we were ten rows from the stage on the floor, so we didn't need them. Worst part? As always, exiting. Especially when people decide standing in the damn doorway is wise because they apparently cannot meet up outside of the venue. read more

I love this venue. It's big, but not so big where you can't see anything. There are plenty of bathrooms around and they are usually pretty clean. Security is thorough, but doesn't take forever. I've had only good interactions with any of the employees. I haven't had an issue with them before, but I'm sure if I did, they would be prompt to fix it. Whether it's a hockey game, professional bull riding or a concert, the Van Andel Arena is the place to be. read more

For a complex that was completed in the mid-90s, this is a fairly decent venue. The seating is situated in a horse-shoe, with a wall at the open end. There are very few bad seats in the stadium, depending on how they setup. If you're there for a hockey game, you'll be fine no matter where you are. Concerts are a different story, depending on whether they setup with a center stage, or a stage at the end of the building. Center stage shows offer the best visibility around the stadium, but if it's a stage end show then sitting in the back can cause some visibility issues. As far as layout, because of it's age (going on 25 years now), there are some issues. The hallways are narrow and can lead to over crowding. You tend to accept some crowding when you go to events, but narrow corridors can really wreck havoc. Because the floor of the stadium is at ground level, when you enter the building you have to climb stairs to get to the concourse. Not a big deal when you are arriving, but when you are leaving this creates a dangerous and slow bottle-neck. For it's issues, the Van has a special place in all west siders hearts. It's your first griffins game, or your high school graduation, or your first concert. And for its service, we appreciate it. Maybe more than it truly deserves. read more

We went to a Griffin's game at Van Andel and had a great time. Our hotel was an easy walking distance so I can't speak to the parking situation. Getting into the area was okay, the lobby area was very crowded and didn't have much space between the outer doors and the metal detectors so we were lucky the line moved quickly since it was freezing outside. Our seats were easy to find, everything labelled well. Concession prices were also reasonable which is nice since some arenas came be extremely expensive. Not a bad seat in the house either. The Griffins played really well and they ended up winning! The game was great to watch, lots of action to keep you engaged and interested. If you are thinking about attending a concert or game, I highly recommend this venue! read more

Van Andel Arena - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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What a GREAT arena. The acoustics were awesome.... the floor seating was fantastic, and the ushers were very helpful. They even moved people back to their seats who were heading to the front without seats. I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of food - it's wasn't outrageous at all. The burger basket was only $8.50 and it was tasty! The fries were seasoned nicely and delicious. The cocktail prices weren't gouging, either. Centrally later to a lot of bars and restaurants, so that's helpful also! Overall, we had a great time. read more

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Terrible experience! Wouldn't recommend to my worse enemy! Lines take forever, don't take cash, and the worlds smallest seats!! Btw they ran out of hot dogs at 7:20 and ran out of beers at 7:30!! read more

I had a terrible experience with the staff at the Van Andel this weekend while attending a concert. I will not say that it wasn't a wild concert, but generally most of the people who see this artist are loving and kind. One employee in particular was extremely rude and judgmental of the crowd, and even when someone would ask a simple question she would answer snarky and short. Most of the time I figured she was just overwhelmed, but when someone was being detained by the police, I began to record and she attempted to hit my phone out of my hand and reach up and grab another girls phone and pull it away from her. I explained that it is not illegal to record police interactions and what she has done was technically assault. I watched her grab and attempt to drag and hit numerous people for reasons I can't even explain. After the police altercation the girl they were detaining got away and ran, the employee then grabbed and pulled on another girl who vaguely looked like the girl that ran. The only similarity was that they were both mixed race, easily a foot difference in height and totally different facial features and clothing. It was almost as if she thinks all POC look the same. The cops noticed this and apologized to the innocent girl who was being assaulted by the employee. The same employee ignored us when we were all herded like cattle in a line to get to the floor level of the concert and were calling for help for someone who was throwing up and passing out in the group. We all screamed help loudly for an employee or paramedic, and they refused to move any of the barriers so we could get this person out. Eventually they had to be lifted up and over and brought to paramedics crowd surfing style because the employee refused to help us or get someone who could. We were packed so tight that simply moving out of the way was not an option. Overall, this employee assaulted numerous people, was judgmental, and rude. I wish Janice (the employee) would have taken the opportunity to learn about people who are different than her rather than taking one look at the group and immediately treating every single person she interacted with like disgusting hippies. read more

Van Andel Arena - Employee grabbing and assaulting people. Here she was taking someone's phone for recording a police interaction. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Mom and I took a mini road trip to the Van Adel Arena to see The Total Package Tour: NKOTB, Boyz II Men, and Paula Abdul. NKOTB was my very first concert in 1990 (and Mom took me), so of course it was fitting we go together! The show was great! Boyz II Men were on for an hour. Their set was pretty minimal, but their show was really good! Paula was on for about 30 minutes. She's still got the moves, dang! Her performance was more theatric, with effects and lots of interactive background. NKOTB brought out all of the stops: not just the hits, but pyrotechnics, confetti x 3, fake snow, audience interaction, and performances on two stages. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was such a phenomenal show! Staff was actually pretty friendly (they thanked patrons on the way out!). Acoustics and effects were good, minus one incident of mic issues. And, like all venues, concessions are overpriced. My biggest complaint? The floor is a gross sticky mess and needs to be hosed down! My shoes literally stuck to the floor, and I ended up tracking around paper confetti the next day. Ick. It was pretty painless to get in and out of the venue. Overall, it was an A-OK experience with great people watching. read more

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We appreciated the updated emails from the arena advising of construction traffic and "need to knows." One important note was that doors will open at 7:00p.m. for our 7:30 show. At 7:20 we are standing completely still, outside in a line that wrapped blocks around the arena, having not moved a single step, with a terrible thunder storm bearing down upon us. I'm not sure why the doors were not opened timely but it was a very disappointing experience, not to mention wet. read more

I can fit into a airplane seat ok, but not here Seat too narrow, bruises on my hips from the arm rest. No warning when buying tickets. I hope to never return. Employees are nice. Place seems clean. Sat in 201 area 2022-12-17 read more

Van Andel is a cozy AHL arena, and the home of the 2013 & 2017 AHL Champion Grand Rapids Griffins. The amenities are what you'd expect for a minor league hockey arena, but I give the Van a nod above the average for its super friendly staff and how simple it is to park, get in, get out and enjoy a quality game. Ticket prices are very reasonable (I was 4th row behind the net for a mere $25). Check out the Griffins schedule and head down for a game. read more

5/10/19- Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, and Carly Pearce. Ride All Night tour, 2019. My friend and I missed Carly's set, as we rolled in like 15 minutes late. We caught all of Kane Brown though, he has a lot of great songs in his set. He covered, "old town road" lol. I liked when he sang," what if." The headliner, Mr Aldean, didn't disappoint either. Lotsa hits, "big green tractor," and "any old barstool," and more. Excellent lights and sound, y'all put on a great show. They mentioned that it's only week two of the tour so get out and see them if you dig their sound or if they're coming to a town at all nearby to you. read more

Bought Suite tickets with the benefit of a Suite entrance for the Kevin Hart concert and Van Angel Arena decided open it to all general admissions. Poorly managed, poorly executed, and over all poor experience. Recommend literally any venue over this place. read more

Van Andel Arena - Line to get into Van Andes Arena,.... Boo! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you like personal space don't go to the van andel. They check your purse, and pockets before you enter, to make sure people don't bring in outside food. This is a bit much for me since even if you have a pack of gum you will be asked to go put it in your car. The events here are cool, but being put under a full body search because they want you to buy their over priced what-nots is very invasive. read more

Best Concert Venue I have been to. Their really isn't a bad seat in the stadium, at least the way Shawn Mendes' stage was set-up. Everyone working the show from the food/beverage vendors to the ushers and ticket takers were friendly and helpful. The popcorn is affordable and great. The mixed drinks were poured very strong...Thank you very much. read more

Van Andel Arena - Shawn Mendes time - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I went to a concert last night (12/5/19) The seating on the floor was very tight. We were like sardines packed into our seats. With the "enlarging" of the American public, Van Andel needs to redo their seats to accomodate. Very uncomfortable folding chairs. On a bright note, ushers were very pleasant and helpful. read more