Grand Rapids, Michigan

==Sports==
[[File:Grand Rapids October 2014 05 (Van Andel Arena).jpg|thumb|right|[[Van Andel Arena]], a popular sports venue in Grand Rapids.]]

Grand Rapids is home to several professional and semi-professional sports teams. The [[West Michigan Whitecaps]] of the [[Midwest League]] play at [[LMCU Ballpark]] and won the Championship Series six times (1996, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2015) and had the best regular-season record six times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2017). The Whitecaps are the Class High A affiliate of the [[Detroit Tigers]]. The [[Grand Rapids Griffins]], an ice hockey team of the [[American Hockey League]], play at the [[Van Andel Arena]] and won the IHL [[Fred A. Huber Trophy]] in 2001, and were AHL [[Calder Cup]] Champions in the 2012–2013 and 2016–2017 seasons. The Griffins are the AHL affiliate of the [[Detroit Red Wings]]. [[Grand Rapids Gold]] is an [[NBA G League]] basketball team that plays at the [[Van Andel Arena]], with the team being an affiliate of the [[Denver Nuggets]]. The [[Grand Rapids Rise]] also play in the [[Van Andel Arena]], and are one of seven inaugural members of the [[Pro Volleyball Federation]], a professional women's indoor volleyball league. [[Midwest United FC]] is a [[United Women's Soccer]] soccer club that plays at [[Aquinas College (Michigan)|Aquinas College]] and won a national championship in the [[2017 United Women's Soccer season|2017 season]].

[[File:WestMichigan Whitecaps DSCN8265.JPG|left|thumb|[[LMCU Ballpark]], home of the [[West Michigan Whitecaps]]]]

Former professional sports teams include the [[Grand Rapids Danger]], [[Grand Rapids Dragonfish]], [[Grand Rapids Cyclones]], [[Grand Rapids Rampage]], [[Grand Rapids Hoops]] ([[Grand Rapids Mackers]]), [[Grand Rapids FC]], [[Grand Rapids Flight]], [[Grand Rapids Owls (1977–80)]], [[Grand Rapids Rockets]], [[Grand Rapids Chicks]], [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] and the [[Grand Rapids Shamrocks]]. The Grand Rapids Blazers won the [[United Football League (1961–64)|United Football League]] Championship in 1961.

Each year the [[Amway River Bank Run]] is held in downtown Grand Rapids. It draws participants from around the world; in 2010 there were over 22,000 participants. The [[Grand Rapids Marathon]] is held in downtown Grand Rapids in mid-October, usually on the same weekend as the [[Detroit Free Press Marathon|Detroit Marathon]]. [[Special Olympics]] Michigan launched a campaign in 2021 to build a publicly funded $20 million facility called the Unified Sports and Inclusion Center that is destined to be the largest Special Olympics facility in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Watson |first = Rachel |date = June 25, 2021 |title = Special Olympics Michigan launches $20M public capital campaign |url = https://grbj.com/news/nonprofits/special-olympics-michigan-launches-20m-public-capital-campaign/ |access-date = September 1, 2021 |website = [[Grand Rapids Business Journal]] |language = en-US |archive-date = September 1, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210901014302/https://grbj.com/news/nonprofits/special-olympics-michigan-launches-20m-public-capital-campaign/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

Amateur sporting organizations in the area include Grand Raggidy Roller Derby WFTDA league, Grand Rapids Rowing Association,<ref name="GRRA">{{cite web |title = Grand Rapids Rowing Association |url = http://www.grrowing.org/ |access-date = June 8, 2010 |publisher = Grand Rapids Rowing Association |archive-date = June 26, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100626125306/http://www.grrowing.org/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Grand Rapids Rugby Club,<ref name="grrc">{{cite web |title = Grand Rapids Rugby Club |url = http://grandrapidsrugby.com/ |access-date = August 21, 2017 |publisher = Grand Rapids Rugby Club |archive-date = August 31, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170831152454/http://grandrapidsrugby.com/ |url-status = live }}</ref> and the West Michigan Wheelchair Sports Association.<ref name="grwcsa">{{cite web |title = Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association |url = http://www.nchpad.org/Directories/Organizations/2590/Grand~Rapids~Wheelchair~Sports~Association |access-date = August 20, 2017 |publisher = Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association |archive-date = August 21, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821045059/http://www.nchpad.org/Directories/Organizations/2590/Grand~Rapids~Wheelchair~Sports~Association |url-status = live }}</ref> The West Michigan Sports Commission was the host organizing committee for the inaugural State Games of Michigan, held in Grand Rapids from June 25 to 27, 2010.<ref name="sgom">{{cite web |title = State Games of Michigan |url = http://www.stategamesofmichigan.com/ |access-date = August 20, 2017 |publisher = State Games of Michigan |archive-date = August 20, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170820180849/http://stategamesofmichigan.com/ |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Kaminski">{{cite news |last = Kaminski |first = Steve |date = May 21, 2010 |title = Kentwood's Mike Knuble Among Olympians to Be Honored at State Games of Michigan |work = The Grand Rapids Press |url = http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/05/kentwoods_mike_knuble_among_ol.html |access-date = June 8, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522081411/http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/05/kentwoods_mike_knuble_among_ol.html |archive-date = May 22, 2011 }}</ref>