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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Rapids YMCA stays open amid soccer stadium construction
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The downtown Grand Rapids YMCA is staying open as construction continues on the new soccer stadium. In a letter to members, the David D. Hunting YMCA said there will be construction fencing near its front starting Monday as crews work on the Amway Stadium. It said its doors will remain open during the project. In the video above, hear Rockford President and CEO Shane Napper talk through the construction process of the Amway Stadium. Crews will be installing a temporary bridge over the entrance area, it said. YMCA members should leave extra time as pathways may shift, and can register their license plate to park for free at the GVSU Seward Parking Ramp. Photos: Crews tear down former Big Boy in downtown Grand Rapids 'The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids is proud to support the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Action 2.0 in the construction of Amway Stadium,' YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids President and CEO Scott Lewis said in a statement to News 8. 'This community investment represents more than new construction—it's a bold investment in the future of Grand Rapids and the Westside.' There are no plans to close the YMCA location throughout the rest construction project, which is expected to take about two years. The goal is to have the stadium ready for the yet-to-be-named team — set to be part of the Major League Soccer Next Pro league — in the spring of 2027. Crews broke ground in April on the $175 million, 8,500-seat Amway Soccer Stadium. It's being built on an 8-acre site along US-131 near Pearl Street. Along with soccer games, it will also host events like concerts and potentially other sports. What to know as construction starts on Grand Rapids soccer stadium The development is expected to draw some 160,000 people downtown each year and have a $408 million economic impact for the city in its first 30 years. The development also includes an 18-story Stadium District Tower with restaurants, shops, apartments and offices, and a pedestrian skybridge at the intersection of Lake Michigan Drive and Winter Avenue that would connect the downtown YMCA and the Grand Valley State University Seward Parking Lot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How an ailing, seldom-used rookie sent Nashville SC past Orlando, into US Open Cup quarterfinals
How unlikely was Nashville SC's biggest win of the B.J. Callaghan era? For starters, the winning goal came from 25 yards away, off the non-dominant right foot of an ailing rookie defender who had played in just four games for Nashville, which was playing its U.S. Open Cup round-of-16 game at Orlando City SC. Wyatt Meyer was under the weather and the Florida heat didn't help matters. When he scored in the 79th minute, he barely had enough energy to celebrate. Advertisement "I was suffering out there," Meyer said. " ... But all the boys on the team are so encouraging, like, 'Wyatt, you're gonna have to dig deep.' It's a little hot, but whatever. Just get through it and grind for these guys." Meyer's goal gave Nashville a 3-2 win at Inter&Co Stadium on May 21 in Orlando, Florida, and sent Nashville to the Open Cup quarterfinals. It ended a five-match losing streak to Orlando, extended NSC's unbeaten streak to seven and snapped the Lions' own undefeated run at 12. Nashville also avenged its loss to Orlando in the quarterfinals in 2022, the only other time it has reached that stage of the United States' oldest soccer competition. "We're really proud of the whole group, the way the group prepared, the way the group performed," Callaghan, Nashville's coach, said. "We call on everybody, and we know that we have a deep squad and a squad that we believe in." Advertisement Nashville will host D.C. United in the Open Cup quarterfinals, which are scheduled for July 8-9. Nashville goes deep into bench Callaghan said Nashville picked up some "knocks" in its 0-0 tie with D.C. United on May 17 and in training prior to facing Orlando, but didn't specify injuries to specific players. Teams are not required to release availability reports before Open Cup games, unlike in MLS play. Nashville is at Toronto FC on May 24 in its next MLS game. Just three regular starters — defenders Andy Najar and Jeisson Palacios and midfielder Patrick Yazbek — were in the initial lineup. Attackers Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, midfielder Edvard Tagseth, defender Daniel Lovitz and goalkeeper Joe Willis weren't picked at all. Advertisement Brian Schwake started in goal, while teenagers Chris Applewhite and Matthew Corcoran played all 90 minutes at center back and central midfield. Midfielder Ethan O'Brien was called up from MLS Next Pro affiliate Huntsville City FC and made his Nashville debut in the second half. "When you get your number called, you're able to get on the field, you get to show what you're capable of doing," assistant coach Michael Nsien said. "Players represented themselves really well tonight. I feel like the team grew 1, 2, 3%." May 21, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City defender David Brekalo (4) and Nashville SC midfielder Ahmed Qasem (37) defend during the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Back-and-forth scoring Orlando's counterattack was dangerous throughout. Marco Pasalic got things going with a 17th-minute goal from well outside the box on a quick transition. But Nashville evened the score in the 23rd minute on a Rodrigo Schlegel own goal. Ahmed Qasem found the net with a low left-sided shot to put NSC up 2-1 just before halftime. Advertisement Qasem was the best player on the field and had a hand in all three Nashville goals. The Swedish winger answered Ramiro Enrique's 58th-minute equalizer when he beat Ivan Angulo off the dribble and passed to Yazbek, who set up Meyer with a back-heel assist. MORE: Nashville SC signs Tate Schmitt, former Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo defender Nashville closes game out At one point, closing out games appeared to be a serious problem for Nashville. In 2024, it gave up six game-winning or game-tying goals after the 75th minute. This season, it has conceded stoppage-time goals in early losses to FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC. Advertisement Since then, Nashville has had three come-from-behind victories and successfully protected one-goal leads four times. Meyer credited that success to Nashville's ability to control the ball late, in addition to having a "dog mentality" to win back possession when they lose it. "The experiences that we've taken from the beginning of the season, how we've been able to apply it is starting to reveal itself," Nsien said. "We're able to switch formations at the end of the game. Players' ability to be fluid and take instruction in an intense game is important for us." Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@ and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US Open Cup: Nashville SC beats Orlando City, advances to quarterfinal
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Revolution add teenage midfielder Eric Klein on homegrown deal
Advertisement Klein was voted 2023-24 Revolution Academy Player of the Year, and signed a pro contract in September following two years in the Revolution Academy. He led Revolution II in starts and minutes in its 2024 MLS Next Pro season, and has made six appearances for New England's reserve team this year. The Revolution's two matches in the US Open Cup this month gave him his first top-level experience. After replacing the injured Luca Langoni for the second half of Though Klein was charged for an own goal when a 38th-minute Chicago cross deflected off him into the New England net, he also led the Revolution in touches and completed passes in the match. Advertisement Revolution coach Caleb Porter has long been a fan, citing both Klein and Allan Oyirwoth as midfield depth the team was 'keen on' when it 'Eric Klein has been on my radar as a standout contributor with Revolution II since I arrived at the club last year,' Porter said in the release. 'Eric has earned this chance to test himself against a higher level of competition, and I look forward to helping foster his growth.' The Revolution (5-4-3, 18 points), 11th in the Eastern Conference having played two fewer matches than most of the league, begin a stretch of three road games in eight days with Saturday night's visit to Sporting Kansas City.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Photos: Crews tear down former Big Boy in downtown Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Work is underway to demolish the Big Boy in downtown Grand Rapids to make way for the new soccer stadium. Big Boy closed back in December of 2023 after serving up burgers on Pearl Street near US-131 since 1964. The property was later donated to the Downtown Development Authority, to be used for the soccer stadium project. When a News 8 crew stopped by Friday afternoon, crews had knocked down about half of the former restaurant's exterior. A bulldozer was working to clear out the wreckage. What to know as construction starts on Grand Rapids soccer stadium See photos of crews demolishing the former Big Boy: Crews broke ground last month on the $175 million, 8,500-seat Amway Soccer Stadium. It's being built on an 8-acre site along US-131 near Pearl Street, which includes the land Big Boy is sitting on. It will host games for the yet-to-be-named team in the Major League Soccer Next Pro league, plus other community events like concerts and potentially other sports. The development is expected to draw some 160,000 people downtown each year and have a $408 million economic impact for the city in its first 30 years. Inside Building West Michigan Construction is expected to take about two years, with the goal of having the stadium ready for the soccer team in the spring of 2027. The development also includes an 18-story Stadium District Tower with restaurants, shops, apartments and offices, and a pedestrian skybridge at the intersection of Lake Michigan Drive and Winter Avenue that would connect the downtown YMCA and the Grand Valley State University Seward Parking Lot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
