AC Grand Rapids will play in the MLS NEXT Pro league at the new riverfront Amway Stadium in 2027, but leaders want to connect with fans through this season’s World Cup.
“Celebrate the culture of soccer here. It's already here, but how can we continue to pour, you know, lighter fluid or rocket oil on that and grow the game here, hyper-locally.”
AC GR Rapids President Darrius Barnes plans to bring together diverse pockets of fans leveraging the momentum of the North American-hosted World Cup to fuel local excitement.
“We have a team right here in AC Grand Rapids in their backyard that they can support. There's soccer enthusiasts that have been playing the game for a long time. There's transplants that have come here from other countries, from other states and maybe they come with an affiliation or a tie to another club. But this can be their local club.”
AC GR is partnering with the Grand Rapids Art Museum presenting a free screening of the new documentary focusing on the1994 U.S. Men’s National Team.
The club is also co-hosting a World Cup Block Party mid-June, and teaming up with bars and restaurants for World Cup Watch Parties throughout the month.
“Whether you're from, you know, the east side or the west side, or the north of the south, Amway Stadium and AC Grand Rapids can be your commonality when you're supporting your team on match day.”
For more on season ticket deposits or Summer of Soccer events, visit acgrandrapids.com.
For a weekly dose of news right to your inbox, sign up for the WGVU newsletter
