Significant Events
On March 1, 2011, The Monster Ball Tour of Lady Gaga appeared with sold out tickets.
On July 28, 2011, Taylor Swift performed a sold-out show on her highly successful Speak Now World Tour.
On August 17, 2011, Britney Spears performed a concert in this arena, as part of her Femme Fatale Tour.
On September 11, 2011, Katy Perry was set to perform a concert, as part of her California Dreams Tour, but was rescheduled to December 1, 2011, due to illness. In late October 2011, she cancelled the rescheduled show, without any explanation. Concert promoter, Live Nation cited, “unforeseen production and scheduling conflicts” as the reason for the cancellation.
According to the Grand Rapids Press, Van Andel Arena hosted an estimated 12,000 people "in what may have been the biggest free-admission event ever held in the arena," when Barack Obama held a campaign event there on May 14, 2008. At the rally, John Edwards publicly endorsed Obama's campaign for the first time.
Heavy metal band Mötley Crüe recorded a live DVD in the arena, during their Carnival of Sins tour.
The Band System of a Down featured the arena in their music video for the song "Hypnotize", as the video was filmed during the concert.
The Professional Bull Riders hosted their premier bull riding tour, the Built Ford Tough Series (known as the Bud Light Cup until 2002), each year from 2000 until 2008; its inaugural event in 2000 was noteworthy for being the first ever BFTS tour event where all 15 bull riders were bucked off in the short-go round.
Hosted several events in 2009, including 16 concerts, 25 family shows, 53 sporting events and 9 other types of events, such as college graduations.
Named #2 top grossing mid-sized venue for the decade in 2009 by Billboard Magazine. Ranked as a top venue in 2010 worldwide mid-year charts in popular industry publications Venues Today (#4 highest grossing mid-sized venue), Billboard (#9 highest grossing mid-sized venue) and Pollstar (#43 highest attendance for venues of all sizes).
Named Hall of Headliners Runner Up for Facility Concession Skills in 2009 by Venues Today. Voted Top Live Performance Venue in 2010 and Best Event Facility in 2009 and 2008 by the Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com readers.
Received On-the-Town Magazine Silver Townie Award for Best Live Music Venue in 2008.
In April 2007, the arena celebrated the grand opening of Huntington Club, the brand-new lounge located inside the arena. In the fall of 2010, the arena re-launched the lounge as the Fifth Third Bank Vault. Operated by SAVOR Grand Rapids, Catering by SMG, The Fifth Third Bank Vault offers a full menu and premium brand liquors, large TVs and specialized décor, including a 12-foot (3.7 m) tall mural featuring the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Fifth Third Bank Vault is open to ticket holders on event nights only. It Was Also Featured On Comedy Central's Nick Swardson's Pretend Time.
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