Apr/May/Jun - 2nd Quarter
Upcoming Events

2008

  • May 31 - MJVBA State Championships
  • May 31 - MHSAA Boys Track & Field Finals
  • June 7 - USPA Mid-States Circuit Sherman Memorial
  • June 14 - Michigan USSSA Lakeside Challenge
  • June 28 - AAU Beach Volleyball Michigan Championships
  • July 11 - Grand Haven Beach Vault
  • July 18 - Midwest Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Championships
  • July 18 - AAU Softball Central Division National Championships
  • Aug. 2 - Michigan USSSA Grand Rapids Blast
  • Sep. 5 - Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic
  • Oct. 3 - Fireball Run Transcontinental Rally
  • Oct. 19 - Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon

Volunteer Opportunities
Events We're Bidding
  • 2009 US Lacrosse National High School Senior Championships
  • 2009 USA Taekwondo National Qualifier
  • 2010 MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals
  • 2010 USA Volleyball Boys Junior Olympic Championships
  • 2010 United States Fencing Association NAC Division II / III / Cadet Championships
  • 2011 NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Midwest Regional Championships
  • 2012 United States Fencing Association Summer National Championships
  • 2014 United States Aquatic Sports National Convention
New Team Players
Become a Team Player!

Joining the West Michigan Sports Commission as a "Team Player" not only supports our efforts to market to and bring in more youth/amateur sporting events, it also generates community pride through sports.

Not to mention a great way for you to stay connected to the West Michigan Sports Commission.

Click Here To Become a Team Player

Become a Volunteer
Staff

Mike Guswiler,
Executive Director

Eric Engelbarts II,
Events Manager

Natalie Rose,
Executive Assistant

Board of Directors
Mission
"...to promote Michigan's West Coast as the premier venue for hosting a diverse level of youth and amateur sporting events, enhancing the economy and quality of life in the region."

Mike Guswiler, Executive DirectorRecap: 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions

The nation's premier amateur boxing event was held in West Michigan May 5-10 as the city of Grand Rapids played host to the 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. The annual event, hosted this year by the Michigan Golden Gloves Association (MGGA), brought the winners from regional competitions together to determine the nation's top amateur boxers across eleven weight classes. Host MGGA recognized the efforts of the West Michigan Sports Commission and our work with Mayweather Promotions, in securing Floyd Mayweather's generous contribution to underwrite the entire event expense.

The event was held at DeVos Place in the Steelcase Ballroom and hosted 29 of the 30 Golden Gloves franchises (Hawaii was unable to attend). It was estimated that the area received an economic impact of $800,000 from visitor spending. This spending total was contributed by a reported 1,413 hotel room nights utilized over the five day period.

In addition to the large spectator attendance throughout the week, the National Golden Gloves Tournament received vast media attention with live local television feeds and plans of syndication on ESPN (semi-final and final rounds). All four Grand Rapids area television news stations covered the event as well as countless articles run by the Grand Rapids Press. The Grand Rapids Press entitled one article "This is the place to be: Golden Gloves, River Bank Run, Thunder Nationals make for possibly best sports day ever."

Occurring concurrently on the Saturday May 10 National Golden Gloves finals, the Fifth Third River Bank Run hosted an estimated total of 16,000 runners with about 13 to 15 percent of the runners coming from outside of Kent County. For more information on the Fifth Third River Bank Run visit www.53riverbankrun.com

For more information on the National Golden Gloves Tournament visit www.goldengloves.com