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Grand Rapids Gold set 26 home dates at Van Andel Arena for 2026-27 season

Grand Rapids Gold set 26 home dates at Van Andel Arena for 2026-27 season

Built World Grand Rapids, MI local

Denver's G League affiliate plays its home slate in a 12,000-seat downtown arena, November through March

3 days ago: Second home date listed at Van Andel Arena

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The Denver Nuggets' G League affiliate opened its 2026-27 home season at Van Andel Arena with two losses to the Sioux Falls Skyforce: 130-116 on November 7 and 120-114 on November 8. The Gold are 0-2 in the Tip-Off Tournament.

The team plays road games at Windy City on November 12 and 14 before returning home to face Cleveland on November 20. Van Andel Arena lists 26 Gold home dates through March 27; the building holds about 12,000 for basketball and does not publish attendance.

Every Grand Rapids Gold date at Van Andel Arena

24 listed

Read from Van Andel Arena's own calendar each time this page loads, so it stays current as shows are added. Dates, times and line-ups are the venue's and can change.

Why it matters

With two home dates played, 24 remain, each capable of moving roughly 12,000 people through downtown Grand Rapids.

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Key Indicators

0-2
Record after two home games
Losses to Sioux Falls, 130-116 and 120-114.
26
Home dates listed at Van Andel Arena
The full 2026-27 home slate, from November 7 to March 27.
~12,000
Estimated capacity per game
Van Andel Arena holds about 12,000 for basketball. The venue does not publish ticket counts.
5 months
Length of the home season
Home games run from early November to late March.

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People Involved

SJ
Steve Jbara
President, Grand Rapids Gold
Current team president
 Ryan Bowen
Ryan Bowen
Head Coach, Grand Rapids Gold
Current head coach

Organizations Involved

Grand Rapids Gold
Grand Rapids Gold
NBA G League team
0-2 in the 2026-27 Tip-Off Tournament; plays home games at Van Andel Arena

The NBA G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets since 2021.
Van Andel Arena
Van Andel Arena
Arena
Home venue for the Gold

A 12,000-seat arena in downtown Grand Rapids, opened in 1996.
Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
NBA franchise
Parent club of the Gold

The NBA franchise in Colorado that runs the Gold as its minor-league development team.
NBA G League
NBA G League
Professional basketball league
Governing league

The NBA's developmental league, with 31 teams.

Timeline

September 2021 November 2026

9 events Latest: 3 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Second home date listed at Van Andel Arena

    Latest Schedule

    Van Andel Arena lists a November 8 Gold game at 3:00 PM, the second of 26 home dates. The venue does not publish ticket counts, so the crowd size is unknown.

  2. Gold fall to Skyforce 120-114

    Game

    Sioux Falls beat Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena. Emanuel Miller had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Gold; Boopie Miller scored 21.

  3. 2026-27 home season opens

    Season

    Van Andel Arena lists 26 Gold home dates, from November 7 to March 27, opening the new campaign.

  4. Gold drop home opener 130-116

    Game

    Sioux Falls beat Grand Rapids in the Gold's home opener at Van Andel Arena.

  5. Gold release promotional schedule

    Announcement

    The team announced theme nights and giveaways for the season, including Opening Night LED thundersticks and a November 20 Hispanic Heritage Night.

  6. Training camp roster finalized

    Roster

    Grand Rapids finalized a 15-player training camp roster that included Boopie Miller, Emanuel Miller and Coleman Hawkins.

  7. 2025-26 schedule announced

    Announcement

    The Gold released their full 2025-26 slate, with Ryan Bowen named head coach.

  8. Gold move to Van Andel Arena

    Venue

    The team shifted home games from the smaller DeltaPlex to the larger Van Andel Arena.

  9. Gold become Denver's affiliate

    Affiliation

    The franchise joined the G League as the Grand Rapids Gold, Denver's one-to-one affiliate.

Scenarios

1

Grand Rapids Gold reach the G League playoffs

Possible Resolves by Apr 15, 2027

Discussed by: Local Grand Rapids sports coverage and G League season previews

The Gold need a top-eight finish in the Eastern Conference after the 36-game regular season. A strong start in the November Tip-Off Tournament and a healthy roster would put them in range. Playoff qualification would extend the season into April and add possible home dates at Van Andel Arena.

2

Gold finish the regular season with a winning record

Possible Resolves by Apr 5, 2027

Discussed by: G League season previews and team beat coverage

After the team records reset at the winter showcase, the Gold play a 36-game regular season. A final record above.500 would mark the first playoff-relevant campaign since the move to Van Andel Arena and keep the building active into spring.

3

Gold win the 2027 G League championship

Unlikely Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Long-shot season predictions from G League watchers

A championship run would require the Gold to win the Tip-Off Tournament or enter the playoffs on a strong streak, then win the postseason bracket and the NBA G League Finals in April. As a minor-league affiliate rebuilding under a first-time head coach, the Gold are not a preseason favorite.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 1996

Grand Rapids Griffins anchor Van Andel Arena (1996)

Van Andel Arena opened in downtown Grand Rapids in 1996, built largely to give the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins a permanent home. The 12,000-seat building gave the city its first modern arena.

Then

The Griffins filled the building through the winter, making the arena a downtown anchor.

Now

Set the model of a minor-league tenant drawing regular crowds to downtown Grand Rapids.

Why this matters now

The Gold now fill the same building with 26 basketball dates, repeating the Griffins' pattern of winter crowds.

September 2022

Gold move to Van Andel Arena (2022)

The Gold relocated their home games from the smaller DeltaPlex venue to Van Andel Arena, a capacity jump that multiplied the crowd per game and put the team on the arena's winter calendar.

Then

Each game drew a bigger downtown crowd and raised parking and traffic demand.

Now

Established the Gold as a fixture on Van Andel Arena's schedule, playing alongside the Griffins.

Why this matters now

The capacity jump is why 26 game nights now move so many people through downtown streets.

Sources

(9)
+5
Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids Gold / NBA G League WOODTV.com GR Channel Grand Rapids Gold / NBA G League Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids Gold Grand Rapids Gold Grand Rapids Gold