The owner of Grand Rapids FC has confirmed his involvement in ongoing discussions about a new stadium and USL franchise in the city.
Matt Roberts, the owner of Grand Rapids FC, is working with local officials on the proposal. His team is currently a member of the National Premier Soccer League, and has posted solid attendance figures during its time in the circuit.
As detailed here on Tuesday, the proposal in Grand Rapids features a soccer-specific stadium as part of a larger development plan for the city. The key details to have been reported thus far are that the facility comes with an estimated price tag of $40 million, could seat 8,000 fans, and host a USL expansion franchise.
Conversations about the proposal are moving forward. Roberts says that the key to getting the idea off the ground is to work with local government and potential investors. More from MLive.com:
The team and city will meet again next week, Roberts said, to studying options for the short term with a goal to build an 8,000-seat stadium for soccer as well as other events, such as concerts.
Is all this attainable?
“I don’t know. I’d like to hope it is but time will tell,” Roberts said, adding that early reaction from potential investors “has been generally positive.”
Roberts told MLive.com that he expects the USL franchise to cost $5 million. Grand Rapids FC currently plays its home games at Houseman Field, a multipurpose, city-owned facility that dates back to 1923 but was given a renovation in 2009.
Image courtesy Grand Rapids FC
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