SkyAscend™ Delivers Front-of-House Lighting Solution for Grand Rapids’ New Acrisure Amphitheater

IA Stage’s self-climbing truss system provides safe, efficient front-of-house lighting positions beneath the venue’s sweeping canopy, bringing innovative rigging technology to one of the Midwest’s newest entertainment destinations.

The new Acrisure Amphitheater officially opened May 15 with a headline performance by Lionel Richie, marking a major milestone in the city’s 31‑acre riverfront redevelopment. The venue features a capacity of 12,000+ – 7,000+ pavilion seats with many beneath a sweeping cantilevered canopy, and a 5,000 capacity lawn—and introduces state‑of‑the‑art production capabilities to Western Michigan.

By nature of what they are – bowl-shaped outdoor performance spaces – amphitheaters don’t have the standard front of house (FOH) lighting positions that you typically find in a brick-and-mortar theater space. Those missing catwalks and balcony rails are ideal for providing the front light needed to illuminate the stage and most importantly, the performers’ faces. As the old theatre adage goes, “If they can’t see you, they can’t hear you.” And that is what the SkyAscend™ is for.

IA Stage installed a SkyAscend™ self-climbing truss system beneath the canopy to provide essential front‑of‑house lighting positions not typically available in outdoor amphitheaters. SkyAscend™ delivers stable, vertical‑load lifting with no lateral movement, providing safe, reliable, and versatile mounting position for performance lighting, sound, video, and much more.

Acrisure Amphitheater’s 50′ wide SkyAscend™ travels a vertical distance of 60′ at a fixed speed of 20 feet per minute with a user load of 2,800 lbs. The entire assembly, including the hoist mechanics, is designed to be lowered to a comfortable working height for maintenance or for making changes to FOH lighting while the crew remains standing firmly and safely on the ground.

IA Stage collaborated with consultant Salas O’Brien and executive architect Progressive Companies on the project. The venue was built by joint venture construction managers Pioneer-Barton Malow with Grand Action 2.0 spearheading development. Grand Rapids–Kent County Convention/Arena Authority owns and operates the dynamic performance space and Legends Global manages the venue, with Live Nation in the role of promoter and booking partner.

IA Stage proudly manufactures a comprehensive range of hoists at its state-of-the-art facility in Central Florida. The company is known for its innovative SkyAscend™ family of hoists, which are designed to meet the diverse needs of the entertainment and events industry. Additionally, IA Stage’s award-winning Flight™ system exemplifies excellence in staging technology, ensuring seamless and reliable performance.

For more information about upcoming shows in the Acrisure Amphitheater, please visit their website here.