WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION BREAKS GROUND ON MEIJER SPORTS COMPLEX EXPANSION; FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN HITS $13 MILLION TOWARD $13.5 MILLION GOAL
Almost two years to the day that the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) introduced the “Winning Streak” capital campaign to improve and expand the Meijer Sports Complex, executives representing the campaign, project and donor community threw the first shovels of dirt to kick off the start of the expansion portion of the project at an invitation-only groundbreaking event today at the complex. The project is expected to be completed in October 2025.
Move United Selects Grand Rapids, Michigan as Host Site for 2025-26 The Hartford Nationals
Move United, the national leader in community-based sports and recreation for individuals with disabilities, has selected Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the host site for The Hartford Nationals in 2025 and 2026. The Hartford Nationals is the largest and longest-running national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment, or intellectual disability.
ALRO STEEL FOUNDATION DONATES $1.5 MILLION TO MEIJER SPORTS COMPLEX EXPANSION FOR NAMING RIGHTS OF CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL FIELD, BRINGING CAMPAIGN TO $8.7 MILLION
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC)’s Meijer Sports Complex improvement/expansion campaign got a major boost with a $1.5 million donation from Alro Steel Foundation and $750,000 in federal grant funds from Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, raising the fundraising total to $8.7 million – or 77 percent of its $11.4 million goal. Alro Steel’s donation also ensures the naming rights of the complex’s new championship softball field.
WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION NAMED “SPORTS COMMISSION OF THE YEAR” BY NATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR THE SPORTS EVENTS AND TOURISM INDUSTRY
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) brought home more than industry knowledge when it recently returned from the annual Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA) Symposium in Portland, Oregon. It took home the title “Sports Commission of the Year” for 2023 in the under 500,000 population category as one of only 10 awardees honored among 800 member organizations.
WEST MICHIGAN SPORTS COMMISSION EXPANDS TEAM, HIRING FUNDRAISING EXPERT BARBARA BENDA AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, COURTNEY MINER AS STATE GAMES EVENT COORDINATOR
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) is bolstering its team as it continues fundraising for the Meijer Sports Complex expansion, hiring fundraising expert Barbara Benda to fill a new position as director of development. The WMSC also hired Courtney Miner as event coordinator of the Meijer State Games of Michigan, the commission’s signature event that embodies the values of participation, sportsmanship and healthy living among Michigan residents.
YOUTH/AMATEUR SPORTING EVENTS IN WEST MICHIGAN GENERATED $87.9 MILLION IN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR REGION IN 2023
The West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) reported today that youth/amateur sports tourism generated $87.9 million in estimated economic impact for the region in 2023 through 121 events – the second highest year…
MEIJER STATE GAMES OF MICHIGAN PARTNERS WITH GREAT LAKES SPORTS COMMISSION TO HOST NORTHERN MICHIGAN HUB FOR 2024 WINTER GAMES
After successfully hosting a northern Michigan hub of the Meijer State Games - Winter Games in Marquette for the past two years, the State Games of Michigan (SGOM) has tapped the nonprofit Great Lakes Sports Commission (GLSC) to act on its behalf as official host of the northern Michigan hub of the Winter Games in Marquette starting in 2024.