Nicknames Locals Have Given the New Acrisure Amphitheater

Acrisure Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids is scheduled to debut its first show on May 15, 2026, and locals have already started coming up with some inventive nicknames for the new venue.

Big Shows Coming to the Acrisure Amphitheater

As the finishing touches are being put on the Acrisure Amphitheater, a massive lineup of artists are being booked to perform this summer. Lionel Richie will perform at the grand opening on Saturday, May 15.

Here's a shortlist of major artists performing at the Acrisure Amphitheater:

• Jelly Roll - June 13
• Santana & The Doobie Brothers - June 15
• Godsmack & Stone Temple Pilots - June 16
• Dave Matthews Band - July 7 & 8
• John Mellencamp - July 10
• The Black Crowes & Whiskey Myers - July 22
• Dirty Heads & 311
• Lynyrd Skynyrd & Foreigner - August 1
• Jerry Seinfeld - August 8
• Five Finger Death Punch - August 15
• Tedeschi Trucks Band and Alabama Shakes - August 25
• Motley Crue - August 27
• John Mulaney - September 12
• Mumford & Sons - September 22

For a complete list of artists and links for tickets for the Acrisure Amphitheater summer concert series, click here.

Read More: Win Pit Tickets to Five Finger Death Punch in Grand Rapids

The gates for the amphitheater have not even opened yet and locals already have nicknames for the venue.

New Venue, New Names: Acrisure Amphitheater Edition

Whenever a new venue pops up, people almost always find a way to shorten the name, or just keep using whatever name they like, even if it officially changes. Just look at Pine Knob Music Theatre, it’s gone through multiple name changes over the years, but most Michiganders still simply call it Pine Knob.

It didn’t take long for nicknames to start circulating for Acrisure Amphitheater, and it hasn’t even hosted its first show yet. Recently, some Redditors tossed around their own ideas on the Grand Rapids subreddit.

"The Ampi;" its short and sweet. It is very similar to name I've been using called "The Ack."

"The GRAMP" is epic and will be the name for the amphitheater I will use moving forward.

I can see how a person would get "The Crashed UFO," because it does look like one when driving on U.S. 131.

I see I wasn't the only one who has been calling the amphitheater "The Ack." Several posts on the thread had variations of "The Ack."

You can't have a naming discussion go by without a "McAmpface" from popping in there.

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There were hundreds of nicknames for the Acrisure Amphitheater on the Reddit thread, but you may have one you would like to add here.

👇BELOW: Every Concert Coming to Grand Rapids' Acrisure Amphitheater in 2026 (So Far)👇