This June, join AC Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Art Museum for an exclusive screening of the documentary Summer of ’94 — a nostalgic look back at the team that changed American soccer forever.
As anticipation of this summer’s FIFA World Cup continues to grow, AC Grand Rapids is thrilled to bring a special film event to the Grand Rapids community.
On Thursday, June 4, we are partnering with the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) and the Grand Rapids Film Society to host the Michigan premiere of the new documentary feature Summer of ’94.
The Film: Underdogs to Legends
Summer of ’94, which premiered at SXSW in March, reveals the wild, unlikely rise of the U.S. Men’s National Team on the road to the 1994 World Cup—the event that sparked the modern soccer movement in America. The United States hosted that year’s tournament, despite our country’s lack of a professional league at the time and our national team’s long history of futility on the international stage.
Under the guidance of their unconventional coach, Bora Milutinović, the “ragtag” group of players endured a grueling two-year training camp with one goal: to prove they belonged.
The film features new interviews with icons of the era, including the famously goateed Alexi Lalas, the dreadlocked Cobi Jones, and the tough-talking New Jerseyans Tony Meola and John Harkes. Armed with their own camcorders, the U.S. players captured raw, never-before-seen footage of their journey that today brings the team’s story to life in personal, profound, and often humorous ways.
For Lalas, this event at GRAM — the first screening of the film in his native Michigan — is a full-circle moment.
“As a proud Michigander, I think it’s only fitting that this documentary be shown in the great state that made me who I am, on and off the soccer field,” Lalas recently told ACGrandRapids.com.
Sports, But Make It Art
The evening is more than just a screening; it is a celebration of the “perfectly precise” intersection of culture, community, and sports. The event will begin with a welcome from the Grand Rapids Film Society followed by remarks from several community leaders shaping the future of Grand Rapids culture:
- Darrius Barnes, President of AC Grand Rapids
- Cindy Foley, CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum
Guests are encouraged to arrive early to explore the GRAM’s current exhibitions and connect with fellow fans and art lovers before the film begins in the auditorium.
Event Details
- Date: June 4, 2026
- Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM | Remarks and Film start at 6:00 PM
- Location: Grand Rapids Art Museum (101 Monroe Center St NW)
- Admission: This is a FREE event, though registration is encouraged to secure your spot.
