Scenic image of Grand Rapids - Home of Move United 2025 The Hartford Nationals
Move United / Events / Nationals /

Host City & Hotels

Host City &
Hotel info

Grand Rapids, MI

Meet our Host City: Grand Rapids, MI

From world-class attractions and outdoor recreation to nationally ranked food and craft beverage scenes – Grand Rapids, Michigan is filled with unexpected surprises. Discover why we’re America’s Best Beer City, the nation’s Craft Beverage Capital, and a Top 20 U.S. Foodie City. Get an eyeful of spectacular art and an earful of live music. Explore our endless opportunities for family fun. Make your travel dreams come true in Grand Rapids!

 

There are many ways to get to Grand Rapids as we’re a 3 hour drive from Chicago and a 2.5 hour drive from Detroit.  Better yet, fly right into Grand Rapids at our award-winning Gerald R. Ford International Airport that’s right next to THE HARTFORD Nationals venues!

 

For accessibility trip planning in Grand Rapids, check out this page from our friends at Experience Grand Rapids.  Don’t forget to book your accessible tours of Grand Rapids with Tours Around Michigan.

 

Now You Know!

  • Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan and is home to over 1 million people in the metro area. Although you don’t see large rapids in the river running through downtown, by 2026 the rapids will be back!
  • President Gerald R. Ford was from Grand Rapids and his Presidential Museum and Burial Site are located right downtown along the Grand River.
  • Summer is great time to visit our local markets, whether it’s the indoor Downtown Market featuring incubator restaurants and delicacies or the farm to table outdoor Fulton Street Market, you’ll always find great things to eat!
  • Grand Rapids has earned the title of Beer City USA for over 12 years with its over 40 craft breweries. Download the Beer City Brewsader app and become Brewsader within the next two years!
  • Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has become one of the world’s top 50 most visited art museums featuring indoor and outdoor gardens and children’s play area.
  • We are 30 miles to Lake Michigan, America’s 3rd Gold Coast, which has beautiful freshwater beaches and some of the best summer sunsets. Tip: You can extend your day there as it doesn’t get dark until 10pm this far west of the EST!
  • Grand Rapids is known as ‘Furniture City’ as it was the center of the furniture industry in the 19th century and to this day still plays a key role in office furniture
  • There are many historical homes in Grand Rapids, including the Heritage Hill district where many homes are built from field stones and wooden siding. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Meyer May House has free tours within this district for you to explore.

You’ll be Smitten with the Mitten before you leave our city!

Hotel Information 

Coming May 1, 2025

Contacts

Local Sponsorship Info
Barb Benda, West Michigan Sports Commission
bbenda@westmisports.com

 

Eligibility, Sports-Specific Info, and Registration
Jessie Cloy, Competition Manager
240-268-5380, jcloy@moveunitedsport.org

 

National Sponsorship Info
Dave Simonson, Development Director
301-217-9837, dsimonson@moveunitedsport.org

 

Media Relations
Shuan Butcher, Communications Manager
240-268-2180, sbutcher@moveunitedsport.org

 

Volunteers
Katy Tigchelaar, West Michigan Sports Commission
ktigchelaar@westmisports.com