Since the football program started at Calvin in October of 2022, an on-campus stadium has been in the works for the growing athletic program. Now, as of Feb. 23, construction is moving into its second phase, transitioning the Knights from a “startup program” to a “real program” with a permanent field to call home, according to Director of Athletics, James Timmer.
Timmer emphasised that playing on campus has always been the goal to foster university identity. “We think it’s an on-campus activity for the students and their parents and for the whole of it,” Timmer said. Previously, the team played off-campus at Grand Rapids Christian High School and later at the Zuidema Soccer Field, though the latter “wasn’t built for football,” according to Timmer.
Coach Trent Figg noted that having a dedicated stadium will be a “game changer” for the fan experience and recruiting. “It becomes a true Calvin community event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Figg said, describing the stadium as a “central hub” for Saturdays that allows the program “to truly have a place to call home.”
Construction timeline and student priorities
The project is currently centered in the lower athletic basin, Timmer explained, where Phase 2 construction on the future Knight Stadium — the official name of which has yet to be decided upon — began ahead of schedule on Feb. 23 due to unseasonably warm weather, according to Sarah Visser, vice president of student experience. Figg noted, while Phase 1 provided the turf and lights, crews are now pouring concrete for the front retaining wall to support the new bleachers and press box. Visser expressed gratitude for the teams “working diligently to keep us on track,” even as the work necessitates closing a section of Knollcrest Circle and the pathways between the soccer and football fields.
As Coach Figg emphasized, the priority for the new design is the student experience, which Figg felt was lacking in previous seasons due to poor seating locations. “That’s the first thing we’ve talked about … let’s put the student section in the prime location in this stadium,” Figg said, explaining that a dedicated student section and band area are critical for the “university feel.”
Financial sustainability and multi-sport use
Addressing common misconceptions, Calvin director of communications John Zimmerman, clarified that “the stadium project is being funded entirely through private gifts, with no student tuition dollars supporting the construction.” Timmer added that the football program has been a positive financial move for the university.
“I mean, this is a privately funded deal,” Coach Figg added, expressing gratitude for the development office and donors who have “partnered with us to make this dream become true.”
While the field is often referred to as a “football stadium,” it is intended as a dual-sport home for the university. Riley DeSarbo, a Calvin lacrosse player, noted that while “we currently use the soccer field for games,” the team has already begun “practicing on the football field.”
DeSarbo said “Both fields have regulation lacrosse lines and goals, so we feel taken care of on either field,” and players are simply “excited to see the progress made on the football field.”
As Timmer stated, the stadium is designed to be “collegiate, compelling and proportional,” with approximately 3,500 seats. Rather than a massive structure, it will be built in the “prairie style,” fitting into the existing campus architecture, Timmer explained.
With the new stadium ready for 2027, Calvin’s football team will be fully equipped and integrated into Calvin’s campus, becoming a place for the university’s vibrant community to unite in spirit and love for the game.
