Why A Tree Has Been Placed On Top Of The Amway Soccer Stadium

2026 is the Summer of Construction here in Grand Rapids. While the Acrisure Amphitheater is finally complete and has already hosted two huge shows, with many more to come, the Amway soccer stadium and the "Restore the Rapids" project at Ah-Nab-Awen Park both still have plenty of work to do.

Get our free mobile app

But progress is being made. One of these projects, the Amway Stadium, is over halfway done, but eagle-eyed commuters noticed something peculiar this morning: a tree perched atop the metal structure. No, this is not a "nature finds a way" situation; rather, there's an intentional reason behind it.

Construction "Topping Out" Tradition

If the construction of the Amway Stadium looks like it's really starting to resemble a stadium, that's because the skeleton of the stadium has officially been completed. The tradition of "Topping Out" a structure takes place when the project has either reached its highest vertical point or the skeleton of the project has been completed, according to the Opus Group.

READ MORE: Why Everyone Is Talking About the Acrisure Amphitheater Bathrooms

It is a common construction practice that symbolizes both progress on the project and good luck for both the workers and the future inhabitants of the building. But the "ritual" actually goes back centuries, dating to 700 A.D. in Scandinavia. 

Back in the day, the belief was that builders would place a tree on top of the building to appease the "forest spirits displaced during construction," as an apology for the trees they'd cut down to build it.

Is it superstition? Maybe, but what it signals to the public is that we'll all be seated very soon to watch The Beautiful Game in Downtown Grand Rapids.