>> IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE GRAND ACTION NOW GRAND ACTION 2.0 IN A STUDY FOR WHAT VENUES ARE NEEDED FOR EXPANDING, THE STUDY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

WE DISCUSS THE PROJECTS INCLUDING A DOWNTOWN AMPHITHEATER AND SOCCER STADIUM ON WEST MICHIGAN WEEK.

♪ THANK YOU FOR JOURNEYING US ON WEST MICHIGAN WEEK.

GRAND ACTION IS BEHIND THE PROJECTS.

MINNEAPOLIS BASED ON CONVENTION SPORTS AND LEISURE INTERNATIONAL DECIDED EXPANSIONS WERE NEEDED.

JOINING US IS JOHN AND TOM.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON WEST MICHIGAN WEEK.

I'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PROJECTS, DeVOS PLACE, MEDICAL MILE PROJECTS, DOWNTOWN MARKET, THESE ARE SOME OF THOSE CORNERSTONE PROJECTS THAT GRAND ACTION HAS BEEN BEHIND.

THERE IS THIS BOILER PLATE OF GETTING THESE PROJECTS DONE.

TOM, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS.

KIND OF EXPLAIN THE MINDSET OF THIS ALL WORKS TO OUR VIEWERS.

>> THE WHOLE IDEA HERE IS TO CREATE KIND OF GROUND SWELL SUPPORT AMONGST THE PUBLIC AND REALLY GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND THEN WHAT GRAND ACTION 1.0 DID SO VERY WELL WAS TO CREATE THIS MODEL OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

THAT IS PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY WORKING WITH PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT BRINGS THE TWO TOGETHER AND CREATES THESE DESTINATIONS THAT ARE JUST COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED GRAND RAPIDS OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS AND IS A SUCCESSFUL MODEL WE CAN NOW EMPLOY FOR GRAND ACTION 2.0.

>> JOHN, TAKE ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHAT IS NEXT.

YOU'RE THE CONSULTANT IN ALL OF THIS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

DO YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND WHAT WORKS?

DO YOU LOOK AT THE FOOTPRINT OF GRAND RAPIDS?

DO YOU TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF RESIDENTS?

>> KIND OF THE CULMINATION OF ALL OF THIS, PATRICK.

THERE WAS A STUDY THAT LOOKED AT WHERE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF WHAT COULD CREATE VISITORS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

OUR PROCESS WAS VERY IN-DEPTH LOOKING AT COMMUNITY LEADERS, COMMUNITY RESIDENT, POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS, LOOKING AT OTHER CUSTOMERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE VENUE ITSELF.

ULTIMATELY TO DETERMINE WHICH OF THESE ARE FEASIBLE AND AT WHAT LEVEL?

>> IF MY MIND SERVES ME CORRECTLY, IN 2016, THERE WAS THE EXPANSION OF DeVOS PLACE.

THE HOTEL, SOCCER, WE'LL GET INTO THAT, AND THEN I BELIEVE THE THIRD PIECE WAS, REMIND ME WHAT IT WAS.

AT THAT TIME IT WAS NOT AN AMPHITHEATER.

>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THINGS.

THERE WAS THE EXPANDING OF WHITE WATER CONCEPT.

YOUTH SPORTS.

THAT'S A POSITIVE, AND IT'S LOOKING AT MORE CONNECTIVITY TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT WAS LOOKING AT CONNECTIVITY TO THE GARDENS THAT ARE WORLD CLASS ASSETS THAT ANY CITY WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE.

THERE WERE EIGHT OR NINE DIFFERENT INSIDE THAT LOOKED AT EXPANDING THIS PALATE OF VENUES THAT WOULD DRAW VISITORS.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE SOCCER STADIUM ARE TWO OF THOSE.

>> LET'S JUMP TO THE AMPHITHEATER.

I KNOW YOU WERE EXPLORING A FEW DIFFERENT SITES BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS CORRIDOR LONG MARKET STREET AND A RIVER THAT MAY PLAY A ROLE IN ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD.

>> WE ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT SITES.

AND IN CONDUCTING THE RESEARCH IT REALLY LOOKED TO US THAT WE SHOULD COMBINE THOSE TWO SITES AND TREAT IT AS A SUPER SITE ON WHICH AN AMPHITHEATER WOULD BE LOCATE: NOW WE'RE IN POSITION WITH ENOUGH REAL STATE TO TOP THE BROADER SITE WITH ASSETS THAT COULD RANGE FROM AN AQUARIUM, CULTURE SPACE, GARDENS, IMAGINE COMING OFF THE RIVER AND CONTINUE AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE THAT COULD LEAD MAYBE TO FOUNDERS.

JUST A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT BUILD AROUND THE NOTION OF THE AMPHITHEATER THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN GET VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAYS A ROLE.

BY HEARD MILLENNIUM PARK WAS A LANDING SPOT FOR THE AMPHITHEATER.

BUT YOU HAVE TO MOVE TRAFFIC IN AND OUT.

SO HOW DOES INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY IN A NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS.

>> IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC?

>> ANYTHING.

YOU GOT TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS WORK.

>> YEAH, WELL LET'S START WITH TRAFFIC AND THEN TOM YOU CAN PITCH IN HERE.

YOU HAVE THE OFF-RAMP OF 131 THAT BRINGS YOU INTO DOWNTOWN.

THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION OF RELOCATING THAT, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, BEING ABLE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO DOWNTOWN IS CRITICAL.

ONCE YOU GET THERE, PARKING IS ANOTHER HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE THAT WE'RE LOOKING.

>> THE YES, PARK SOMETHING A HUGE ISSUE.

AND THEN PATRICK, YOU ALSO HAVE MARKET STREET, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY BUSY ROAD THAT YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

ALSO, CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE JUST RECENTLY--IT WAS JUST RECENTLY APPROVED THAT THEY NEED TO RELOCATE THAT SEWER LINE.

THAT WAS A HUGE, HUGE ISSUE FOR ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT BE IT AN AMPHITHEATER OF WHAT WE'RE DOING OR DOWN THE ROAD 10, 20 YEARS WITH THAT SEWER LINE THERE, THAT WAS A BIG IMPEDIMENT.

JUST GETTING THAT GOING AND RELOCATED IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

>> THE AMPHITHEATER, WE'LL STICK WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG PROJECT.

HOW LARGE--IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THAT 201 MARKET CORNER OF FULTON AND MARKET AREA.

BUT YOU HAVE VAN ANDEL ARENA NEXT DOOR.

SO GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHY THE AMPHITHEATER, THE SHOWS, THE SEATING, WHAT IS THE VISION?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND THE VANANDEL DOES GREAT BUSINESS IN THE CONCERT WORLD.

THE CHALLENGE IS IN THE CONCERT INDUSTRY THERE IS A SEPARATE AMPHITHEATER SEASON.

THE GRAND RAPIDS HAVE HAD A CHALLENGE CONNECTING THAT.

WE HAVE THE MEYER GARDEN THAT'S ROUGHLY ONE-TENTH OF THE SIZE THAT WE'RE TALKING HERE.

WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL CAPTURE A NEW CONCERT MARKET THAT IS BY PASSING VANANDEL.

WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH VANANDEL SO THERE IS NOT AN OVER RAP LAP.

THEY'RE VERY EXCITED AND BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A BUSTLE OF CONCERT ACTIVITY.

AND THEN CAN WE DO FOOD FESTS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

AND IMAGINE SLEDDING AND THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THAT COULD TAKE PLACE NEAR THE AMPHITHEATER.

IT'S A ROBUST CONCERT BUSINESS BUT IT IS BUILT AND DESIGNED TO BE 365-DAY A YEAR PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE PROJECTED, I THINK, JOHN, 29 COULD BE CERTIFICATES AND AND--CONCERTS AND 14 OTHER EVENTS THAT COULD BE CREATED WITH THIS TYPE OF AMPHITHEATER.

AGAIN, YEAR-ROUND TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND SOMETHING THAT FILLS THE GAP IN THE MARKET THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

I WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT, TOO, YOU DO HAVE VANANDEL ARENA AND MEYER GARDENS.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FROM GRANDACTION'S PERSPECTIVE PERSP IN CONTACT CONTACT AND WE'RE LISTENING TO MEYER GARDENS.

WE'RE LISTEN TOGETHER FOLKS AT VANANDEL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT AND DON'T CREATE CONFLICT OR CANNIBALISM IN DOING SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO THERE.

>> ARE THERE BLUE PRINTS?

IS THERE FINANCING ALREADY IN PLACE?

>> NO, WE'RE AT THE POINT GIVEN THE STUDY FROM C.S.

& L, THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HIRE A DINE FIRM.

AND THAT POPULOUS.

AND LOOKING AT THAT 201 FULTON MARKET, BASED ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IS WHEN WE'LL REALLY START LOOKING AT OKAY, WHAT DO WE THINK MAKES SENSE HERE.

THAT IS DUE TO US SOMETIME MID TO END OF JANUARY.

SO IT'S REALLY PREMATURE TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT A LOCATION.

WE'VE GOT THE FINANCING.

WE DON'T YET.

WE WANT TO WAIT ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE GET THE FINANCING PIECE AND WE GET THE LOCATION RIGHT.

>> BUT HAS THE STATE OFFERED ANY KIND OF FUNDING?

IS THERE MONEY OUT THERE?

I KNOW WE LIKE TO HAVE THOSE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

HAS THERE BEEN SOME DISCUSSION GETTING THIS MOVING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY ALREADY.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE GONE VERY WELL.

I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT EXISTED IN 1.0 IS WELL AND ALIVE FOR 2.0.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CONVENTION CENTER HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS.

GREAT SUCCESS THERE.

BUT IT, TOO, NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS.

JOHN, WHAT DID YOUR STUDY COME UP WITH THERE?

>> A NUMBER OF LEVELS OF IMPROVEMENT.

ONE OF THEM IS SIMPLY TO STAY CURRENT WITH THE TRENDS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THE CONVENTION CENTER FABRIC DeVOS FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS.

EMERGING OUT OF COVID, OUTDOOR SPACE CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT.

JUST A VARIETY OF IT WHAT I'LL CALL TREND-FORWARD INVESTMENTS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE.

THAT'S OUR FIRST PROJECT.

>> AND THEN FIVE YEARS OUT, THERE IS TALK ABOUT A HOTEL.

THEN YOU GET INTO THE DYNAMICS IF IT IS PART OF GOVERNMENT IN YOUR BUILDING HOTEL, WHO RUNS IT?

WHO OPERATES IT?

THERE IS--THERE ARE SOME SMALL DILEMMAS BUILT INTO THAT, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> YEAH, IT IS TRUE.

ANY MARKET.

YOU COULD HAVE A GREAT CONVENTION CENTER.

UNLESS YOU HAVE ENOUGH HOTEL ROOMS TO SLEEP THE GUESTS YOU BEGIN TO LEAVE SOME MARKET SHARE ON THE TABLE.

THE GOOD NEWS FOR GRAND RAPIDS PRE-COVID WE'RE DIPPING INTO THE MARKET MORE AND MORE AND PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING HOW FANTASTIC DOWNTOWN WAS.

WE'RE MOVING INTO CONVENTION MARKETS IN A MORE SUBSTANTIAL WAY.

ONE OF THE PLANS IS TO.

DEVELOP A PROJECT ON SITE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT WOULD ADD 300-400 ROOMS.

THESE ARE DIFFICULT TO FINANCE.

THEY'RE THEY ARE THEY OFTEN INVOLV PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

TREND FORWARD INVESTMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY OUTDOOR SPACE OPEN SPACE LEARNING, MOVING TO THE HEADQUARTER HOTEL IN YEAR FIVE AND THEN POTENTIALLY NEAR YEAR TEN AND BEYOND LOOKING AT EXPANSION OF THE OVER ALL FOOTPRINT TO THE BUILDING.

YOU'VE GOT MONROE ON ONE SIDE AND MICHIGAN ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND EXPANDING ACROSS THOSE CAN BE CHALLENGING.

BUT THE TWO BIG BLOCKS OF LAND AVAILABLE IS THE POST OFFICE SITE AND CULVER.

WHERE IT GOES IT IS JUST HARD TO SAY RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, THIS IS A THENTEN YEARS IN THE FUTURE PROJECT.

JUST TO POINT OUT THAT IT'S A LONG-TERM POTENTIAL NEED.

>> YOU HAVE THAT U.S.

FACILITY.

YOU HAVE A FEDERAL BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.

THEN IF THERE ARE I AM IMPROVEMENTS TO CULDER SQUARE, THAT'S A WORK AROUND TOO.

YOU'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH PARTIES I WOULD IMAGINE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THAT IS LOOMING OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY VERY PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND EVEN THE U.S. POST OFFICE.

VERY PRELIMINARY.

NOTHING IN DETAIL YET.

AGAIN, IT'S SUCH A LONG-TERM PROJECT, AND WHERE THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY GOES AND GROWS IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS IS HARD TO SAY.

KEEP IT ON THE BACK BURNER.

KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PURCHASE LAND OR DO A DEAL ANY TIME SOON.

>> BUT ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE CONVERSATIONS GOING.

WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS END UP YEAR NINE OF IT HAPPENING IN YEAR TEN AND NOT HAVING TALKED ABOUT IT FOR NINE YEARS.

SO CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE ALL AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND DIFFERENT DEPTHS BUT THEY ALWAYS CONTINUE.

>> THE LEVEL OF DETAILS IN ALL OF THIS, IT'S EXTRAORDINARY IN WHAT GOES IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS.

THROW IN A PANDEMIC INTO THE MIX.

WHILE YOU'RE--WHICH WILL, BECAUSE THERE IS A MINDSET INVOLVED IN ALL THIS, TOO.

YOU'RE TRYING TO FORMULATE A STUDY IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THERE ARE THOSE EMOTIONS IN THE MOMENT.

BUT YOU'RE ALSO THINKING LONG TERM.

TAKE ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AND THAT THINKING, REALLY RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE FEELING BETTER KNOWING THAT THERE IS A VACCINE ON THE HORIZON.

BUT WHILE YOU'RE FORMULATING PLANS, THERE IS NO VACCINES.

>> RIGHT, SO PATRICK, WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU WHEN WE ORIGINALLY MET IN MARCH THIS YEAR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, AND IT WAS A VERY FRANK DISCUSSION.

GUYS, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THREE, FIVE, TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE PERCEIVE PERCEIVED?

WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION WE KNOW WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS DONE AND THE DEVASTATION IT HAS CAUSED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY ON GRAND ACTION AND OUR ASSOCIATED COMPANIES HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BOLSTER UP THE COMMUNITY AND BRING IT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS.

BUT PARALLEL TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO VERY CONVINCED THAT WE NEED TO BRING SOME HOPE.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE A LONG-TERM STRATEGY SO WHEN THAT VACCINE DOES HIT THE CALENDARS, WHICH IT IS STARTING TO DO, WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.

AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'RE READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWTH THAT WILL COME.

>> WELL, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM TO TALK WITH THE TWO OF YOU IS THAT THERE IS THAT HOPE.

THERE IS THAT--HEY, THERE IS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF REALLY TOUGH MONTHS AHEAD OF US.

IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS, AND HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, I MEAN, IT'S NOT NEXT YEAR, BUT TO HAVE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS IN PLACE, IT MAKES YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

>> YEAH, IT DOES.

AND I THINK THAT YOU MENTIONED HOW DETAIL OF WORK THIS IS AND I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING THAT I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED NOT HAVING BEEN PART OF GRAND ACTION 1.0 IS THE AMOUNT OF DUE DILIGENCE, THE AMOUNT OF FACT CHECKING AND WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS, IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE.

YOU ALMOST HAVE TO START NOW.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PARALLEL STRATEGY, YOU GOT TO START NOW.

SO THAT YOU'RE READY TO GO WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

>> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE GRAND ACTION BECAUSE PATRICK, JUST THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF RESOURCE TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND PLAN WHEN YOU SHOULD BE PLANNING.

YOU PLAN IN THE DOWN CYCLES.

THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.

THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE THESE RESOURCES IS LIMITED.

KUDOS TO GRAND RAPIDS GRAND ACTION TO PLAN AT THE PERFECT TIME SO THAT WHEN WE COME OUT OF THIS WE HAVE A STRATEGY GOING TOWARD.

>> HAVING STRATEGIES THIS FALL I HAD THE ABILITY TO COACH SOCCER AGAIN.

AS SOMEONE WHO PLAYED ALL MY LIFE, COACHING WITH THE MASK ON, BUT IT WAS GREAT JUST TO GET OUT AND TO FREE YOUR MIND OF EVERYTHING.

SOCCER.

I'M EXCITED.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THE SOCCER STADIUM DOWNTOWN.

AND YOU CAN SIGN ME UP FOR FOUR SEASONS TICKET.

I'M READY TO GO.

>> HAVING GROWN UP IN NORTHERN OHIO IN THE 70s, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME HOW BIG SOCCER WAS GOING TO BE AT THIS POINT, I WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED YOU.

BUT IT IS A SPORT THAT IS TAKING THIS COUNTRY LIKE WILDFIRE.

AND I THINK THAT GIVEN THAT IT'S ONE OF THE ASSETS WE'RE LOOKING AT, IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR GRAND RAPIDS.

I THINK THAT WE'VE SHOWN--WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT THROUGH IT.

FOR IT.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS GOING TO GET LEGS PRETTY QUICK.

I KNOW JOHN HAS DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THAT AS WELL.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE A SOCCER HOTBED IN WESTERN MICHIGAN FROM THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE ALL THE WAY UP TO CLUB GRAND RAPIDS S FC.

THEY ARE ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN NEAR THE TOP OF THEIR LEAGUE.

4,000-PLUS PEOPLE COME TO SEE SOCCER THAT'S NOT EVEN PROFESSIONAL.

IT'S AN AMATEUR LEAGUE.

THAT KIND OF SET THE STAGE GIVE THAT THE SIZE OF THE MARKET WHICH IS PERFECT, GIVEN THE INTEREST IN SOCCER IT SET THE STAGE FOR SKIPPING ONE LEVEL AND MOVING UP TO THE CHAMPION LEAGUE WHICH RIGHT BELOW MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER.

IT'S A VERY HIGH TRIPLE-A FRANCHISE.

THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST OF BOTH USO AND GRAND RAPIDS TO BUILD A FRANCHISE WHILE KEEPING YOUR US 2 FRANCHISE.

YOU HAVE THE MINOR-MINOR LEAGUE AND THEN THE BIGGER CLUB IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OWNERSHIP GROUPS TO FORM AND A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST OF USL WANTING TO COME TO GRAND RAPIDS.

>> WHERE WOULD THAT STADIUM BE CONSTRUCTED?

AND HOW MANY SEATS ARE WE TALKING?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

GO AHEAD JOHN.

>> I WOULD SAY TO BE DETERMINED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY 7,000 SEATS IN THAT RANGE WITH THE VARIOUS LOCKER ROOMS, SUITES, AMENITIES AND PATRON AMENITIES FOR THE PROJECT.

LOCATIONS WE'RE WORKING WITH A FIRM TO DO A PRELIMINARY REVIEW MUCH SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTUALLY WE'LL MOVE INTO A SITE SELECTION STUDY.

I THINK WE NEED AN OWNERSHIP GROUP TO STEP FORWARD AND DIRECT THAT AS WELL.

TO BE DETERMINED ON THE SITE.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SITES IN THE PERIPHERY OF DOWNTOWN THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC IN TERMS OF CRETEING A GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.

>> SINCE IT'S OUT THERE.

PERIPHERY, WHERE?

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH, TOM, YOU WANT TO HANDLE THAT ONE?

>> MOSTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE, PATRICK, WE'VE HAD POPULOUS, THE URBAN DESIGN PLANNING FIRM TO TAKE A CURSORY LOOK AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER, I THINK THEY CONSIDERED FULTON MARKET, 201 MARKET.

BUT WE HAVE SO MANY DESTINATION ASSETS.

THAT TAKES UP A BIG CHUNK OF SPACE, SO MOST OF WHAT I'VE SEEN OH HAS BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE, AND THEY'RE STILL LOOKING AT THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A DELIVERABLE TO US, TOO, IN MID-JANUARY.

IT'S EXCITING THAT IT IS ANYWHERE NEAR THE CORE DOWNTOWN WHICH IS I THINK IS REALLY COOL.

>> AND IT HAS TO BE NEAR THE CORE DOWNTOWN.

THA'S IDEAL IN TERMS OF ACCESSING RESTAURANT AND NIGHTLIFE ASSOCIATED WITH ANY KIND OF SPORTING EVENT.

IF WE COULD TIE IN TO THE FABRIC OF DOWNTOWN ON THE PERIPHERY, THAT'S A HOME RUN TO MIX MY SPORTS METAPHORS.

>> AND SO MANY SYNERGIES, TOO, CORE DOWNTOWN, WEST SIDE.

YOU'VE GOT GRAND VALLEY STATE.

YOU'VE GOT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE JUST ACROSS THE RIVER.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS THAT I THINK WE CAN MAKE HERE AND SYNERGIES THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE.

I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP IT AS CLOSE TO THE CORE DOWNTOWN AS YOU CAN.

>> WE HAVE THE GRAND RIVER WHITE WATER PROJECT.

AD YOU MENTIONED AN AQUARIUM.

SO MANY GREAT DESTINATION CITIES SEEM TO HAVE ONE.

WE HAVE THIS NATURAL WATER WAY HERE, WHICH RIGHT JUST LINKS AQUARIUM.

SO WHERE DO WE SEE THAT POTENTIALLY GOING?

AND WHO MIGHT BE BEHIND IT?

IS IT THE ZOO THAT GETS INVOLVED INVOLVED?

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

>> WE'LL CREDIT THE ZOO.

THEIR MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS HAD AN AQUARIUM ON THEIR FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCEPT.

WE TALKED WITH THEM AND WOULD THE 201 MARKET BE POTENTIAL HOME FOR THAT.

POSSIBLY.

THERE IS THE TRAFFIC THAT COULD INTERACT WITH THE AQUATIC LIFE, SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS SIMILAR TO THE STADIUM, IT COULD BE ON THE RIVER IN DOWNTOWN MAYBE ON THE WEST SIDE LOCATIONS.

THE INTEREST IS VERY HIGH.

THE ZOO HAS US VERY HIGH ON THE LIST OF MIDTERM PRIORITIES.

THERE IS EXCITEMENT ABOUT IT AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP ON THE RIVER AND IN AND NEAR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

>> WHAT ARE THE TIME LINES FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS?

YOU GOT THESE SOFT PROMISES OUT THERE.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT SEE SOME OF THIS BEING CONSTRUCTED?

>> I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE A MUCH BETTER ANSWER FOR THAT ONCE WE GET POPULOUS' STUDY BACK IN MID-JANUARY.

BUT AS JOHN MENTIONED, SO I THINK YOU CAN BE SAFE IN SAYING CONVENTION CENTER YOU'RE LOOKING AT FIVE-TEN YEARS.

I WOULD THINK A SOCCER STADIUM, AN AQUARIUM, AN AMPHITHEATER, PROBABLY SHORTER TIMELINE BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE--IT'S PRE-MA SURE FOR US TO SET A TIMELINE YET UNTIL WE SEE THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM POPULOUS.

AT THAT POINT I THINK WE CAN START HINTING AT WHAT I THINK IT MIGHT BE.

>> ON THE SOCCER STADIUM IT REALLY IS A FUNCTION OF THE OWNERSHIP GROUP AS WELL.

IF THERE WAS A MOTIVATED GROUP WITH THE INTEREST IN USL TO MOVE TO GRAND RAPIDS THAT COULD MOVE PRETTY DARN QUICKLY IF THAT DOES TAKE PLACE.

>> THE INFLUENCES OF THE MEDICAL MILE.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT THERE WITH PARAGO PLANNING TO MOVE ITS HEADQUARTERS DOWNTOWN.

YOU HAVE THIS GREAT INNOVATION CENTER PROJECT UNDER WAY NOW IN ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT'S TAKING PLACE.

IS THERE MENTION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES THERE ALONG THE MEDICAL MILE IN THE STUDY?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK WE REALLY FOCUSED HEAVILY ON MEDICAL MILE AS AN INVESTMENT ZONE.

I WILL SAY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION MARKET AND HOW DOWNTOWN IS DEVELOPING, AND IT'S IMPROVING.

I GIVE CREDIT TO THE MEDICAL MILE, THE EMPLOYMENT THEY BRING IN, THE BUSINESS THEY BRING IN, BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT, HOUSE, WE HAVEN'T PEGGED THE PROJECT AT MEDICAL MILE WE DO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT AS AN AMAZING ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE CAN'T GO WITHOUT MENTIONING OUR FRIEND WHO PASSED AWAY.

HE HAS LEFT AN IMPRESSION IN DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS AS WELL.

IT'S A GREAT SUCCESS STORY.

A NUMBER OF CITIES ACROSS THE MIDWEST LOOK TO GRAND RAPIDS FOR THE GREAT IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS OF BRINGING THEIR DOWNTOWN CORE BACK TO LIFE.

TOM, JOHN, BOTH OF YOU SO INSTRUMENTAL OF MAKING THINGS GREAT AROUND HERE IN DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON WEST MICHIGAN WEEK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

♪ ♪