Van Andel Arena ranks as ‘top’ global arena

Van Andel Arena ranks as ‘top’ global arena

Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids is one of the 100 busiest arenas in the world. Photo by Johnny Quirin

Van Andel Arena made some waves in 2013.

Overall rank

Pollstar used box-office numbers from January to December 2013, and ranks Van Andel as the 46th top arena of all sizes in the U.S. and 92nd in the world.

Class rank

Van Andel Arena is also the fifth highest grossing U.S. venue with a capacity of more than 10,000 and less than 15,000, according to Billboard. The venue ranks sixth in North America and 16th in the world in the same class.

The Billboard rankings are based box-office sales from November 2012 through November 2013.

Headliners

Those ticket sales include sold-out Carrie Underwood, Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Luke Bryan, Journey and Maroon 5 concerts and sporting events such as the Calder Cup-winning Grand Rapids Griffins, the WWE and The Harlem Globetrotters.

Several major music acts, including Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Demi Lovato, already have tour stops at Van Andel Arena slated for this year.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association will also hold its league championship — the WCHA Final Five — at the arena in March.