Grand Rapids Stadium

Info Updates:

12/28/2011 - marilyn Nielsen

Please contact my boss, Sandy Simon, Phil Simon Enterprises, Inc. for more info on Stadium Arena. I am currently putting together a book on the building of Stadium Arena and all of the artists that performed there. Lots of great pics! That is how I stumbled accross your information. Phil Simon, Sandys father, built the arena. 616-257-7834 Ssimon2705@sbcglobal. net.

4/7/2007 - Al Gierz

In the late 80''s we ran a few kart practice sessions inside with coke syrup on the terrasso floor, we were hoping for a few "Saturday night races" but all weekends ended up being booked for bigger money events. All the West Michigan Karters that did show up have awesome memories of racing indoors on the tiny oval.

8/26/2005 - Rich Vanslyke

There was in fact midget races inside the old stadium in the early early 1950s. And I believe there was also some horse racing before that.

2/7/2005 - Malcolm Balk

The building has since be removed for a new Delta Plex arena. In the fifties there was a drivein theatre on the North side of the building. It was built in the forties by Datema Builders, A massive steel grid was added to the top a couple years later when the roof bowed several feet and the building was declared unsafe. A Mr. Tom VanHaften may still have some 16mm film of the indside and exterior.

2/7/2005 - Malcolm Balk

Atlantice Mills opened in 1956 after the Rockets hockey team folded. Its parent company was Virginia Dare Co. It did have Crosley (small car) racing in the fifties. promoted by Big Bud Linderman, a local disc jockey with WGRD and others.

12/17/2004 - Dick Lee

Chet Mysliwiec promoted a USAC Midget race there Feb. 17 1956.Leroy Warriner was the feature winner. It was a 1/10 mile track located inside the building.

8/31/2003 - Carl Zeagler

Whoops! The GR Stadium was a minor league indoor hockey venue located on Turner Ave in GR. To my knowledge no auto racing has ever taken place there, though an occasional motorcycle ice race has been run. It was converted into a dept store in about 1960 (Atlantic Mills), then stood vacant for a few years when it was reopened as a hockey venue (GR Owls-IHL). It has since been expanded by adding a balcony on one side and is now called the Deltaplex. Concerts, boxing events, CBA basketball, etc.

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