Featured image credit: Grand Action 2.0
A proposal to raise Kent County’s hotel tax to fund a new football stadium in the Michigan city of Grand Rapids has passed with more than 53% of the vote.
The result sees the county’s hotel tax increased from 5% to 8% to fund the 8,500-seat stadium, as well as a new amphitheatre and aquarium.
All 240 precincts completed their count and reported that 65,909 people voted yes to the new tax rate while 56,976 voted no.
The Kent County Sports and Entertainment Facilities Proposal is supported by local officials, business and tourism groups such as the Grand Rapids Chamber and Experience Grand Rapids.
The tax is paid by guests who purchase a hotel room in Kent County.
It is hoped that the tax will enable the public-private partnership building the venues to close a projected $120m (£94m/€110m) funding gap for the soccer stadium and amphitheatre.
The stadium is due to cost around $175m, with $50m of that secured in private funding.
It is planned to be built next to the David D. Hunting YMCA near Pearl Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue NW.
It would be owned and operated by the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA).
Currently the hotel tax generates around $15m and the increase would result in an additional $9m, according to Destination Kent, the political action committee that advocated for it.
Construction work has already begun on the amphitheatre which is due to be called the Acrisure Amphitheater. The naming rights were given to the insurance company, which is headquartered in Grand Rapids, after it donated $30m towards its development.
It is expected to open in 2026 with a capacity of 12,000 and will also be owned and operated by CAA.
The venue is due to host around 54 ticketed events per year with officials saying it could attract 300,000 visitors.
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