this looks like it will be a much needed upgrade for the teams and fans.. living 3 hours away we try to catch the games when they are in Waterloo , Dubuque and Cedar Rapids(not so this year).
DSM Bucs finally get an upgrade
- Thread starter motorcy90
- Start date
This is great. I'm really glad it's in the city at a spot that needs it.
Perfect choice.
Hope to see the financial breakdown soon.
Perfect choice.
Hope to see the financial breakdown soon.
Fan experience is great. Honestly, one of the best sporting events to attend in Central Iowa. $1 beer nights definitely help with the 20-30 year olds. My wife and I loved going to games there.
This is a much needed development. I played youth hockey at Bucs Arena in the late 80s/early 90s and it had a lot of deferred maintenance even that far back. I'm curious what they are going to build in place of the old Arena? They still have that vacant K-Mart taking up a lot of space just to the west.
It's going to be interesting what happens to JT's Slap Shot. They are a small hockey shop located in the Sherwood Forest strip mall across the street from the Arena. They get a lot of foot traffic from the arena so I'm wondering if they will relocate to Merle Hay as well?
I thought they were rumored to be having an arena off of Grand in WDSM by the DMACC campus. Or am I making **** up?
there's been a lot of talk/rumors over the last few years by the ownership about a new arena most of the time it came down to $$ issues maybe the current building is worse off then first thought from the storm damage.
they are pretty comparable in attendance usually around the 2,000 mark. it hasn't been as crazy the last few years though I will admit that.
Wondering if the Metro facility will be toast soon. Last I heard they needed new infrastructure as well. Maybe AC units or something.
Yes - from the DM Register article basically said the further they got into the building the more issues there were.
For the Buccaneers, the move is a chance to create a new fan experience, with upgraded public address systems, lighting and seating options, including club level and on-ice suites, in a new facility that will also better suit the players, said team president Nate Teut.
Those upgrades were not feasible or financially possible in the aging Buccaneer Arena, which opened 60 years ago at 7200 Hickman Road in Urbandale, particularly after its roof suffered major damage in this August's derecho.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/s...m-moving-new-arena-merle-hay-mall/3766286001/
that is what I am wondering as well. if the building received more damage then originally stated. it was already kind of limping along to begin with before hand.
No, they are building some indoor rinks out there along with indoor and I believe outdoor soccer.
The vacant Kmart has gone through a significant renovation. It looks amazing given what it was. I haven't heard if there are any tenants yet.
That is a different youth facility. It’s the MidAmerican Energy Rec Complex which will have 2 ice sheets
Midamericanrecplex.com
www.midamericanrecplex.com
I just drove by there the other day and couldn't believe what they had done to that building. Hopefully it works out because that whole areas is dying,
It's smart to put it there, easy access from the interstate, and the merle hay mall is already that combo space with a sports bar/flix/etc. Awesome move for them. Buc Arena was a dumpster fire well before the derecho took it out.
Metro has its own problems but thats a whole different story.
This is great news for the Des Moines community. I hope they are able to salvage Buccaneer Arena, and keep the sheet of ice for the youth and adult leagues.
