Grand Rapids, MI (November 19, 2025) – The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA), Grand Action 2.0 and Acrisure revealed today that Acrisure Amphitheater’s Grand Opening weekend will feature legendary entertainer and Acrisure Brand Ambassador, Lionel Richie, headlining the first concert on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Michigan natives The War & Treaty and Brian Vander Ark will open the show as Richie’s special guests. Tickets will go on sale Friday, November 21 at AcrisureAmphitheater.com with presales beginning Thursday, November 20. Fans can sign up for the Acrisure Amphitheater VIP email club by Wednesday, November 19 to receive presale information.
The weekend will also feature entertainment and activities for the whole community to celebrate the unveiling of West Michigan’s newest entertainment venue, including a free Community Open House on Saturday, May 16. Attendees will experience Acrisure Amphitheater through self-guided tours of the facility, live performances by local entertainers, and additional activations designed for the community to get a first look at the brand-new venue. Admission to the event will be free, and it will feature family-friendly entertainment and activities for all ages. Additional details for the Community Open House will be announced closer to the event date.
“I am so honored to be the first artist to perform at Acrisure Amphitheater,” said legendary recording artist and Acrisure Brand Ambassador Lionel Richie. “The energy is out there; I can feel the buzz already. We’re going to make lots of memories; all we need is to fill the Amphitheater with some of the greatest artists in the world every night. They’re coming your way, and I’m so happy and honored to be the first artist in the building. Congratulations, and I’ll see you very soon.”
“I couldn’t be more thrilled as we get closer to the opening of the brand-new Acrisure Amphitheater, which will truly be an asset for the whole community to enjoy,” said CAA Chairman Rick Winn. “I would like to give a special thank you to our partner, Live Nation, who is working hard alongside our Legends Global team to secure an amazing lineup of events for our inaugural season, including Russell Dickerson, mgk, Jack Johnson, 5 Seconds of Summer and much more. Additional concerts that will be part of the exciting first season will be announced in the weeks and months to come.”
“This has been a project more than 20 years in the making, all leading to this incredible moment when we’ll welcome family and friends to the first concert at the Acrisure Amphitheater next spring,” said Grand Action 2.0 Co-chair Dick DeVos. “That weekend with Lionel Richie will launch an extraordinary inaugural season of music and events at this new Grand Rapids landmark — one that will connect our community to the river, to the arts, and especially to one another.”
“Acrisure is incredibly proud of this partnership, which is one more way we can support the Grand Rapids community,” said Greg Williams, Acrisure Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO. “We’re even more excited that our friend and brand ambassador, Lionel Richie, will make the grand opening truly memorable. His extraordinary artistry and ability to connect with audiences will set the stage for many incredible moments to come.”
The Grand Opening weekend kicks off an unforgettable inaugural season at Acrisure Amphitheater, bringing world-class entertainment to the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Additional concerts will be announced in the weeks and months to come. The community is invited to sign up for the Acrisure Amphitheater VIP email club to be the first to receive show announcements, presale codes, special offers and so much more!
Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall, Acrisure Amphitheater and Amway Stadium are managed by Legends Global, the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands.
About Lionel Richie
International superstar Lionel Richie boasts a discography of albums and singles that is second to none. With more than 125 million albums sold worldwide, an Oscar®, Golden Globe®, and four Grammy Awards®, Richie has been honored with distinctions including 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year, and the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors. In March 2018, Richie cemented his iconic legacy as he imprinted his hand and footprints at Hollywood’s storied TCL Chinese Theatre. In 2022, he was both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and received the 2022 American Music Awards Icon Award, his 18th AMA award. He also received the 2022 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress. Richie debuted and served as producer on the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim. The Greatest Night in Pop quickly became a cultural phenomenon as the most watched music documentary of 2024 with a staggering 1.3 billion minutes viewed. Richie has served as a judge on ABC's "American Idol" for the past eight seasons and will return for its 9th season. He also served as executive producer on AppleTV+’s “KPOPPED,” which hit #1 in South Korea. Most recently, Richie offered an intimate and candid reflection on his journey through music, fame, and personal transformation in his New York Times bestselling memoir Truly, released on September 30, 2025.
About The War & Treaty
Founded in 2014 by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, The War And Treaty has emerged as one of the most electrifying new acts in American music. They were nominated for the Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards, and have also been nominated for Duo of the Year at the CMA Awards two years in a row and for Vocal Duo of the Year at the ACM Awards. They have won two Americana Music Awards (both for Duo/Group of the Year) and have received additional nominations and recognition from CMT Music Awards, Folk Alliance International, People’s Choice Country Awards, as well as from the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry.
About Brian Vander Ark
Brian Vander Ark is the lead singer and principal songwriter for the multi-platinum alternative rock band The Verve Pipe, recognized worldwide for their radio hits Photograph, Hero, Happiness Is, Never Let You Down, and the #1 smash single The Freshmen. During breaks from his work with The Verve Pipe, Brian set out on his own to launch a multifaceted solo career that has included releasing four acclaimed independent studio albums. After years of large-scale touring, Brian was challenged by a need for a more personal fan experience. In response, he created the “Lawn Chairs and Living Rooms” house concert series, performing over 900 intimate shows in the homes of fans across America. He’s also a sought after featured speaker, telling his compelling story of success and reinvention to both motivate and inspire the management and staff of corporations, financial institutions, schools, non-profits and more.
About The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) is the seven-member board that administers Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall, Acrisure Amphitheater and Amway Stadium. The CAA was established on March 29, 2000 by the City of Grand Rapids and County of Kent under the Convention Facility Authority Act, Act 203 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1999. The CAA’s mission is to encourage economic development within the West Michigan region, create jobs, and provide facilities for the entertainment, enjoyment, and/or benefit of the citizens in an economical manner by developing and operating convention, entertainment, and sports facilities within Kent County.
About Grand Action 2.0
Grand Action 2.0 is a not-for-profit economic development organization. Its primary mission is to: identify downtown and adjacent neighborhood building and transformational capital intensive projects, galvanize public opinion and support, leverage public/private investments and formulate and implement funding strategies including securing private sector funding in support of request for primary public sector funding.
About Acrisure
A global fintech leader, Acrisure empowers millions of ambitious businesses and individuals with the right solutions to grow boldly forward. Bringing cutting-edge technology and top-tier human support together, it connects clients with customized solutions across a range of insurance, reinsurance, payroll, benefits, cybersecurity, real estate services – and beyond. In the last twelve years, Acrisure has grown in revenue from $38 million to almost $5 billion and employs over 19,000 colleagues in 24 countries. And this is just the beginning. To learn more, visit Acrisure.com.
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually. To learn more, visit us at www.LegendsGlobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Media Contact:
Hilarie Carpenter, Acrisure Amphitheater
616-742-6397
[email protected]
