Behind the Scenes – Hockey Urban Experiment hits Muskegon
Grand Rapids has gained some notoriety the last number of year with a fellow named Rob Bliss coining, and pulling off, some interesting urban experiments. They've had the Zombie Walk, the Pillow Fight, the Tomato Fight, and of course the Airplane Drop at ArtPrize. Along that vein, some folks got thinking about something similar that could be pulled off downtown Muskegon, and voila, the Main Street Hockey Experiment. The Experiment will take place in conjunction with the upcoming Muskegon Snowfest and a Muskegon Lumberjacks game taking place that night. We caught up with Dan Rinsema-Sybenga of Muskegon Main Street to fill us in on the details.
MS: What's the idea with the Main Street Hockey Experiment?
DRS: The idea is to create a memorable, participatory, crowd experience that people with have fun with. The idea is simple, but remember its an experiment. On Saturday, Feb 6, Western Ave between 4th and 5th will be closed to traffic. It will be set up as a block long hockey area. At two o'clock we'll start registration with the help of the Muskegon Skirtz, and folks will be able to enter the playing area, and will be assigned to one of two teams. By three we hope a mass of hockey players will have registered, and we'll drop up to 50 balls on the street for the players to use to score goals on their "opponents" net. The game will go for 60 minutes and we expect a fun, memorable game, to take place.
MS: Is this an ice hockey game?
DRS: Let me be clear. This is NOT an ice hockey game. It will be played, whatever the weather conditions, on the street, with participants wearing shoes or boots, as street hockey is played everywhere. The only thing a player needs to bring is a hockey stick to use during the game.
MS: What feedback have you gotten so far?
DRS: People who have heard are excited. We are spreading the word through social media like Facebook and Twitter, and we are expecting a lot of buzz as the event comes closer. We are thinking it is going to create quite a scene and social media buzz the day of.
MS: What's the reason for trying an event like this?
DRS: We want to be cool too! No, seriously when we have seen these type of events promoted other places they have given folks the ability come and do something fun and completely out of the ordinary in their own community. Also, this event fits Muskegon to a T with our proud hockey heritage, and it is also going to be part of a completely great day downtown Muskegon with Snowfest and the Lumberjacks hockey game going on. You can come down for the Chili Cook-off, play the hockey game, enjoy a beverage at the Snowfest tent, and top it off with a Lumberjacks game all with one trip!
MS: Sounds like fun. Thanks for organizing and we hope this experiment goes well and we see more experiments soon.
DRS: We're hoping so as well. Be sure to sign up to plan on Facebook!.
Check it out on the web
Main Street Hockey Experiment website
Main Street Hockey Experiment YouTube promo
Main Street Hockey Experiment on Facebook
Labels: Downtown Muskegon E-News
Behind the Scenes – Ringing in the New Year with a ReLaunch
The Downtown Muskegon Holiday Inn is a huge driver of downtown event and tourist traffic. Built in the 1980’s, through a private-public partnership, the facility became a Holiday Inn in the 90’s and the brand stuck when the current ownership group Muskegon Nights Inc, including general manager Gamal Elkhouly, purchased the hotel in 1998. In 2008 the ownership group faced an important decision when corporate Holiday Inn announced an aggressive make-over/rebranding campaign that would require more than 2 million in renovations to the Muskegon facility. Fortunately for downtown, the owners committed to the plan, and in late 2009 the renovations were completed. Now the hotel is holding a re-launch party to allow the downtown community, and the wider public, to get a first hand look at the changes, so we took the opportunity to get a sneak peek and talk to Mr. Elkhouly about the renovations and future plans.
MS: Wow, the place looks great. As an important Muskegon impression maker, what feeling were you hoping to create for hotel guests, and the local community, with the upgrade?
GE: The entire premise of the system-wide Holiday Inn brand make-over was to move our image from mid-scale to upscale. As we are, for many visitors, Muskegon’s front door, we believe we have accomplished that leap, and that our customers first impression of Muskegon is “Wow, upscale!”.
MS: Could you give us a quick rundown of the areas of the hotel that were improved?
GE: To achieve that upscale feeling we had to modernize pretty much every guest accessible space. Every guest room has been overhauled with upgraded bedding and showers. Our bar/restaurant area got a makeover. Clean, new treatment of the lobby area, a refurbished pool and exercise area, a refresh of the business center, audio visual upgrades in the conference rooms, new signage throughout the facility and customized music and scent selections make our facility upscale to all your senses.
MS: What has the guest/community reaction been so far?
GE: Awesome! The community has been overwhelming in their appreciation for our investment in our emerging tourism economy facility. Guests have given us feedback that validates our attempt to go upscale, which pleases us tremendously.
MS: Tell us the details of the ReLaunch party so all of the downtown supporters can see for themselves the impressive job you’ve done.
GE: We felt a ReLaunch party would be a great way to make sure the Muskegon community has a first hand opportunity to experience our make over. We know many Muskegon residents and businesses host travelers and we want them to feel confident in recommending the Holiday Inn. To that end, we are holding a ReLaunch Party on January 19 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. During this time we’ll be serving light hors d'oeurvres and beverages, playing live music, giving out door prizes, and leading tours of our refreshed facilities. At 5:30 there will be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new Holiday Inn. All are invited!
MS: Exciting. I know a number of folks are looking forward to seeing all the new additions. Thanks for your investment and your work in keep the Holiday Inn a vibrant part of downtown Muskegon.
GE: You’re most welcome. Look forward to seeing you the 19th.
Check it out on the web
Chronicle article on renovations
Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor Website
Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor on Facebook
Labels: Downtown Muskegon E-News
Grand Rapids has gained some notoriety the last number of year with a fellow named Rob Bliss coining, and pulling off, some interesting urban experiments. They've had the Zombie Walk, the Pillow Fight, the Tomato Fight, and of course the Airplane Drop at ArtPrize. Along that vein, some folks got thinking about something similar that could be pulled off downtown Muskegon, and voila, the Main Street Hockey Experiment. The Experiment will take place in conjunction with the upcoming Muskegon Snowfest and a Muskegon Lumberjacks game taking place that night. We caught up with Dan Rinsema-Sybenga of Muskegon Main Street to fill us in on the details. 
DRS: The idea is to create a memorable, participatory, crowd experience that people with have fun with. The idea is simple, but remember its an experiment. On Saturday, Feb 6, Western Ave between 4th and 5th will be closed to traffic. It will be set up as a block long hockey area. At two o'clock we'll start registration with the help of the Muskegon Skirtz, and folks will be able to enter the playing area, and will be assigned to one of two teams. By three we hope a mass of hockey players will have registered, and we'll drop up to 50 balls on the street for the players to use to score goals on their "opponents" net. The game will go for 60 minutes and we expect a fun, memorable game, to take place. 
DRS: Let me be clear. This is NOT an ice hockey game. It will be played, whatever the weather conditions, on the street, with participants wearing shoes or boots, as street hockey is played everywhere. The only thing a player needs to bring is a hockey stick to use during the game. 
DRS: People who have heard are excited. We are spreading the word through social media like Facebook and Twitter, and we are expecting a lot of buzz as the event comes closer. We are thinking it is going to create quite a scene and social media buzz the day of. 
