By Hilarie Szarowicz
SMG Management
As part of ongoing security enhancements, SMG-managed Van Andel Arena will be going completely smoke free for all events beginning in September. The arena will no longer have a designated smoking area outside of the venue making the building and its immediate surrounding area a non-smoking space. As re-entry is not permitted, patrons who exit the arena for any reason, including to smoke, will not be allowed to re-enter the facility.
Working with local authorities, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, SMG identified the removal of the smoking area as an enhancement to current security procedures. It has been a growing trend for live sports and entertainment venues not to provide a designated smoking area, and many arenas have chosen to adopt this practice, including Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center on the University of Michigan’s campus in Ann Arbor, and Spartan Stadium and Breslin Center on Michigan State University’s Campus in East Lansing, as well as BOK Center in Tulsa, OK, KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY, Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, CA, and The Huntington Center in Toledo, OH.
“First and foremost, we work to provide a secure and comfortable environment for all of our guests and employees,” said SMG Regional General Manager at Van Andel Arena Richard MacKeigan. “It has been a growing trend in the industry, and we feel strongly about this opportunity for security enhancement. We understand this may be an inconvenience for some, however we are confident everyone can agree that safety is paramount.”
The arena had previously banned smoking of any kind, including vaping and e-cigarettes, inside of the arena. For more information regarding Van Andel Arena’s security policies and other procedures, please visit VanAndelArena.com.
