Big plans, big questions: Northside residents eye inclusion as Kalamazoo Event Center takes shape

KALAMAZOO, MI — As construction of a huge new sports and entertainment complex hits its stride in downtown Kalamazoo, nearby residents are still wondering what’s in it for them.

“Most people are just asking for opportunities for jobs in the construction field in general,” says Todd McDonald, principal of CSM Group, “and they are asking if there is going to be more opportunity beyond the event center.”

CSM is the Kalamazoo-based construction management firm that is working on the project. McDonald says he expects the Event Center to be a catalyst for other work and other projects.

Brian Beaver, vice president of CSM Group, says, “We’ve had some people interested in the laborer role. And the laborer role kind of spans multiple contractors. It could be concrete. It could be masonry. It could be steel. So it’s a very versatile role to be able to fill.”

The Kalamazoo Event Center is a $300 million sports and entertainment complex that will be a place for concerts, conferences, youth sporting events, trade shows, and other large events. It will also be a new home for Western Michigan University basketball, WMU ice hockey, and the Kalamazoo Wings professional ice hockey.

Some students in the electrical program at Kalamazoo Valley Community College have been looking at the project for apprenticeship opportunities, he says. But what jobs could CSM and the Event Center project fill immediately?

“We’re looking for cement masons,” Beaver says. “We’re looking for concrete workers. And we’re looking for plumbers and electricians.”

McDonald says, “The one thing in the construction industry that we need is people. And that’s not going to change.”

Peter Michell, senior vice president of Rockford Construction and the representative of project owner Catalyst Development Co., says the project continues to need many skilled workers, including plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, and carpet layers.

On an ongoing basis, Michell says the project will also need maintenance technicians, facilities managers, audio technicians, security officers, ticket takers for events, and many others.

The Kalamazoo Event Center is a $300 million sports and entertainment complex that will be a place for concerts, conferences, youth sporting events, trade shows, and other large events. It will also be a new home for Western Michigan University basketball, WMU ice hockey, and the Kalamazoo Wings professional ice hockey. Owned and operated by Catalyst Development Co., the privately-funded, 453,000-square-foot facility is under construction in the 400 block of West Kalamazoo Avenue, between Park Street and Westnedge Avenue. It is expected to open in September 2027.

Catalyst is the property development arm of Greenleaf Development Co.

Groundbreaking planned Friday, Sept. 26

Although construction started in November of 2024, a celebration has been planned this week to serve as the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Kalamazoo Event Center. It is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, on the Kalamazoo Mall at Water Street. The free event is open to the public and will feature music, games, and prizes.

In a written statement, Greenleaf Hospitality Group CEO Tim Rayman said, “We want everyone to join us. Please bring your family, enjoy the festivities, win prizes, and help us mark the beginning of something historic. Together, we’ll showcase the spirit of Kalamazoo as we build the future of the Event Center.”

In the meantime, residents of Kalamazoo’s Northside Neighborhood are hoping that the project has a positive economic impact on them. It is being built on Kalamazoo Avenue, the southern border of the neighborhood. About 75 area residents attended a town hall-style meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, at the Northside Association for Community Development to learn more about the possibilities.

“Trade contractors on this job will also help to provide training,. Some work directly with Kalamazoo Valley Community College and their programs. Other ones work with other structured programs. There’s going to be a lot more work in Kalamazoo as well.” — Todd McDonald, principal of CSM Group

Denise Hensley was among some small business owners who wanted to know more about vendor opportunities inside the new facility, “and how they’re going to be able to help the Brown and Black communities.” Hensley, an African-American woman, is the owner of Josie’s Southern Comfort Food, a catering service that specializes in Southern comfort food, and Be’Dazzling Creations, an entertainment and creative events business for such things as birthdays and anniversaries.

She says she would like to find an opportunity at the Event Center, but doesn’t really see one “because they’re trying to branch out, I feel, to more national and more regional (businesses). And they’re trying to build their wealth rather than others, the wealth of their companies.”

But developers have said the Event Center will feature “a diverse selection of food and beverage options, including local favorites, fan-favorite concessions, and premium dining experiences.”  It will also have quick-service food options, specialty food vendors, and full-service bars.

Regarding making competitive bids to sell food or retail products in concession areas, Mattie Jordan-Woods says, “We have to look in terms of one or two or four of us coming together to put forth a proposal if we want one of those spaces. So that we can compete.”

Jordan-Woods is a former executive director of the NACD. Its community room hosted the town hall meeting to allow area residents to learn more about the project. An initial meeting was held there about a year ago.

Denise Hensley was among some small business owners who wanted to know more about vendor opportunities inside the new facility, “and how they’re going to be able to help the Brown and Black communities.”

David McCurtis, owner of MC Painting, attended Tuesday’s gathering to pass out business cards to the project partners. His company does power washing, deck staining, and other work, as well as painting. If his attendance results in new work, he said he will be pleased. But he says, “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m good.”

How do people who may be entry-level workers find their way to construction jobs for which they would already need to have skills and experience? Michell and McDonald say the project is looking to provide training and internships for local workers, and laborers will still be needed.

“Usually, my advice is the same thing as it was for me when I started in the trades,” McDonald says. “You just have to be willing to take that initial job, that laboring job, get in there, (learn to) understand how the industry works, be on a team, and then you work your way up from there.”

He suggests that interested people go to the website to connect with the project.

“Trade contractors on this job will also help to provide training,” McDonald says. “Some work directly with Kalamazoo Valley Community College and their programs. Other ones work with other structured programs. There’s going to be a lot more work in Kalamazoo as well.”

Although he did not cite specific numbers or say how many were Northside residents, Michell says about 55 percent of the workers hired for the project thus far have been local people.

“I’m interested in what kind of events they are going to pull in that are more minority-based. So, making sure we have some diversity in the programming that comes into that business.” — Shimonta Dickerson, Northside resident

Stephanie Farrell, executive director in charge of Human Resources for Greenleaf Hospitality Group, says there should be a net gain of about 400 jobs after the Kalamazoo Event Center opens in the Fall of 2027 and activities at Wings Event Center (a long-standing property of Catalyst Development Co.) ratchet down in 2028. She was asked if workers displaced from Wings would absorb many of the jobs at the new venue. Wings Event Center has hosted ice hockey, concerts, and other events for many years.

Shimonta Dickerson says she would love to be involved with event coordination.

“I’m interested in what kind of events they are going to pull in that are more minority-based,” she says. “So, making sure we have some diversity in the programming that comes into that business.”

For events that are not sports-related, Dickerson says, “I want to be a part of a decision-making team (that decides) who can we bring to fill the space that will attract (people).” She said she wants project developers to make sure a diversity of entertainers is considered.

Raymond Ryan, president of the NACD Board of Directors, says there are a lot of questions still to be answered about the impact the Event Center will have. But he said more information sessions are likely.

“There are still a lot of questions that we need to get answers to,” Ryan says. “… But it’s good just to see the intent and the partnership (between the developers and NACD), and them coming forth, sharing and giving opportunity. I love that.”