DSC along with the Des Moines Buccaneers, ICON Architectural Group, City of Des Moines, and the City of Urbandale broke ground at Merle Hay Mall after three years of planning. The 3,500-seat arena will be built in what was once Younkers, and be used for youth hockey, other sporting events, and concerts, in addition to the Des Moines Buccaneers new home.
According to budgets submitted to IEDA, the cost of the arena increased by 24% to $58.9 million last year due to the rising cost of building materials such as steel. The plan is to have the Bucs playing their first game at the arena by fall of 2023.
DSC completed a similar project in North Iowa, converting a JCPenney’s into the Mason City Arena.