GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Gold, Grand Rapids Griffins, and Grand Rapids Rise are coming together once again at Van Andel Arena, as the three teams prepare to tip off, drop the puck, and take the court for their upcoming seasons.

These three Grand Rapids professional sports teams will celebrate the start of another year with the annual installation of a large-scale sticker on Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The tradition brings the three teams together on the exterior of the arena, showcasing their Van Andel Arena home and building excitement for another season of professional sports in downtown Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids Gold, the NBA G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, were recently recognized as the NBA G League Franchise of the Year for the 2025-26 season following a record-setting year that saw more than 117,000 fans attend games, a No. 2 ranking in overall league attendance and a franchise record for partnership sales.

The Griffins were crowned the Central Division and Western Conference champions during the 2025-26 regular season, while finishing second in the entire American Hockey League. They concluded the 2025-26 season with a franchise-best 51-16-4-1 record (.743) and 107 points, which were the fourth-most in team history. The 51 wins last campaign also tied for the third-most in the Griffins’ 30-year history, and they rattled off a franchise-record-tying 15-game win streak. Last season, the Griffins ranked fifth among 32 AHL teams with an average attendance of 7,950, which included four sellouts of 10,834. Excluding the COVID-restricted 2020-21 season, the Griffins have averaged at least 7,000 fans for 18 consecutive seasons. 

The Grand Rapids Rise, Michigan’s Major League Volleyball team, are entering their fourth season after a 12-win 2026 campaign that matched their inaugural championship-run total. The Rise set franchise records with a five-match winning streak and 104 digs in a single match, while earning recognition from players Morgan Hentz and Paige Briggs-Romine, who each received Player of the Week honors. Head coach Cathy George was promoted to team president and general manager in June, with Mike Gawlik taking over as head coach for the 2027 season.

With all three teams calling Van Andel Arena home, the annual sticker installation serves as a celebration of the unique professional sports community in Grand Rapids. From basketball to hockey to volleyball, fans can experience three professional sports teams under one roof.