[slidshow_break]
Lubbers Stadium, Grand Valley State
The north end of Lubbers Stadium at Grand Valley State. Photo: Creighton Rabs/HERO Sports
For a university which has only been existence since 1963, Grand Valley State opened a stadium in 1979 which today is on par some of FCS facilities and has a fanbase to match. And it’s not just the student population of over 24,000.
Situated west of Grand Rapids, Mich. off M-45 in Allendale and named for former GVSU president Arend D. Lubbers, who led the fundraising drive to construct the stadium, Grand Valley completed a renovation in 2012 which expanded its official capacity to 10,444.
Yet, overflow crowds are not uncommon in Allendale. The Lakers have drawn 12,000 fans at least 25 times since 2002; considering most D2 schools would kill for that many fans during an entire regular season, it’s almost staggering how huge the support of Laker Nation is. Also worth a watch: one of the largest marching bands in Division 2, Grand Valley State's “Pride of the Midwest” marching band.