Great Lakes Invitational Tickets
Overall Rating
4.3
By pear
OUTSTANDING
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
Outstanding venue, event and all made excellent with great college hockey
By MichiganMic
Overpriced concessions
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
Great place, great energy but the beer/alcohol prices were shameful. Will not go next year if the GLI stays, will watch it instead.
By Hockey Stu
Concession too expensive
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
The games were great. However, the concessions were way too expensive for a college level game… Your prices actually exceeded NHL prices and to take a family to this event was too expensive… You also need to figure out a way to allow the fans to leave in between games and come back. I understand it’s a safety deal but you can figure it out, it’s a terrific venue you just need to make it more affordable
By Dut
The Tradition Continues
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
This tournament has improved greatly since moving to Van Andel Arena!
By Hockey Dad
Overpriced concessions
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
The event, college hockey was wonderful. The cost of concessions was extremely high. $18+ for a beer is ridiculous. Ticket prices also were a bit high if you didn't have a college student section code.
By tvk
GLI
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
Moving the GLI to Grand Rapids and Van Andel arena was the best move that could have been made. The venue is marvelous, the area has numerous hotels and restaurants close to the arena, and the town is beautiful. The event is set up as the best of all holiday tournaments and lives up to its name year after year. Win or lose, this event is one we will attend for years to come. It is our sincere hope that Grand Rapids and Van Andel arena are permanent fixtures for the GLI.
By Pat
GLI
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
Perfect venue for a collegiate hockey game - concession prices were a bit steep.
By RL
Hockey tournament
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
We attended the GLI and had a great time! We saw several OT and shootout games, which was exciting.
By TJ
Great Hockey - Brutal Concessions
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
The GLI is a great event and I’m glad it’s in Grand Rapids. Kudos to Michigan Tech for keeping the event going after being squeezed out of Detroit. The competition is great, and the fans are good spirited. This event could be a complete sell out if two aspects were improved upon. First, there is very little marketing done for this event. It’s difficult because the Red Wings basically had built in marketing for the GLI on their telecasts and that support is obviously gone. Michigan Tech could really use a local media partnership like WOOD for some promotion. The locals by and large don’t know much about this event, When you bring it up, they say “that sounds cool, how come I never heard about this?” This should be like Grand Rapids’ bowl game. Second, fans from outside of the area are absolutely gobsmacked by concession and beverage pricing at Van Andel Arena. It is an obscenity. Fans aren’t allowed to renter the venue between games, so they’re stuck with long lines and high prices. Alcoholic beverages are priced like newly FDA approved drugs: as high as the market can possibly bear.
By ferris720
Merch? $17.25 for domestic beer?
Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids
Van Andel is a great venue for sporting events, concerts, comedians, etc. There was a great crowd for both games. But...how was there no GLI merchandise available? I know there were shirts made because the mascots were throwing them into the crowd. T-shirts? Hoodies? Commemorative puck? And the beer prices at Van Andel are ridiculous. Grand Rapids is a minor league town, hosting minor league sports...yet they're charging Super Bowl prices.