Grand Rapids next Mich. NCAA site?

Peter Secchia has his eye on his next project. And when that happens, it usually means good things for the state of Michigan and/or MSU.

Fresh off watching the Spartans play in the NCAA title game at Ford Field in Detroit, Secchia is looking to bring an NCAA Tournament regional to Grand Rapids for the 2011 men’s NCAA Tournament.

Secchia, whose name adorns MSU’s newest medical school facility in downtown Grand Rapids, is an MSU alum, former ambassador to Italy and East Grand Rapids native.

He is hoping for a regional tournament to take place at Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids, where the MSU men’s basketball team has played exhibition games before. It’s currently used for large concerts, events (Barack Obama spoke there last May) and is the home of the Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings affiliate) and the Grand Rapids Rampage arena football team. It has also been host to multiple NCAA Hockey regional tournaments, hosted by Western Michigan.

Right now, Secchia told the Grand Rapids Press two obstacles stand in the way of the tournament coming to West Michigan — seating and team hosting. To host, a facility must be able to hold at least 12,000 fans. Van Andel’s seating capacity is listed at 10,834, but can hold more than 13,000 for concerts.

The site would also need a Division 1 host school. If MSU is that host, the Spartans would not be able to play at the location and the regional tournament would lose a huge part of its draw. If a school such as Central Michigan or Western Michigan were to host, the Spartans would be able to play close to home, thousands of fans would flood to Grand Rapids and that host school would benefit from the exposure.

The West Michigan Sports Commission is backing on Secchia on this endeavor and he says the NCAA is listening. There are a few kinks to work out, but it could be another great event for West Michigan and the Spartans.

Grand Rapids is arguably the best place to be in the state to start a business, find a job, go to school or raise a family. I grew up in a suburb of Grand Rapids and have been to countless events downtown and in Van Andel Arena. I was also in Detroit for the Final Four this weekend and, having experienced both locales on numerous occasions, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is something that would be a victory for all parties involved.