Editing Iowa Events Center

{{Short description|Public events complex}}
[[Image:IECmarquee.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Iowa Events Center's marquee thanked the construction workers for their efforts after [[Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines)|Wells Fargo Arena]] opened.]]
The '''Iowa Events Center''' is a public events complex located in [[Downtown Des Moines|downtown]] [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], [[Iowa]], [[United States]].

==History==
[[Image:VilsackatIEC.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Gov. [[Tom Vilsack]] speaks at the [[Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines)|Wells Fargo Arena]] dedication ceremony on July 12, 2005.]]
The Iowa Events Center originally consisted of the existing [[Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center|Vets Auditorium]], the existing Polk County Convention Complex, the new [[Hy-Vee]] Hall, and the new [[Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines)|Wells Fargo Arena]]. The new buildings were designed by [[Populous (architects)|Populous]]  (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event), who were also the architects of the renovated [[Principal Park]] in Des Moines, the [[United Center]] in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], and many other [[arena]]s and [[stadium]]s in the [[United States]]. The project cost $217 million, making this the largest public project in [[Iowa]] history. Funding for the project came from [[Polk County, Iowa|Polk County]] and its cities, private donations, and the Vision Iowa Fund that Gov. [[Tom Vilsack]] signed into law in 2000. Gambling profits from the [[Prairie Meadows]] casino in nearby [[Altoona, Iowa|Altoona]] are expected to pay off the debt.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Dobbs|title=We built it... will they come?|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10B515F72BC7FE18&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=[[The Des Moines Register]]|date=2005-07-11|page=1A}}</ref>

Construction began in early 2002 after Polk County reached a project-labor agreement with local [[labor union]]s that guaranteed favorable wages and working conditions in exchange for no [[work stoppage]]s. Polk County was soon sued by [[right to work]] supporters who claimed that the use of a project-labor agreement on a public project violated Iowa's right to work laws. The lawsuit halted construction for several months, but on November 14, 2002, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in Polk County's favor.<ref>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Santiago|title=State Supreme Court upholds Polk County's labor agreement|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F759BD6522BEDB3&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2002-11-15|page=4A}}</ref>

On April 22, 2004, Polk County agreed to transfer management of the Iowa Events Center to [[Comcast Spectacor#Global Spectrum|Global Spectrum]], a [[Comcast]] subsidiary, of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]]. Global Spectrum soon announced that the new [[Iowa Stars]] hockey team would be the center's primary tenant. In September 2004, Global Spectrum announced that ticket purchases will be done through Patron Solutions, another Comcast subsidiary, instead of [[Ticketmaster]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Kyle|last=Munson|title=Events Center bypasses giant in ticket deal|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1054BEC88E46D5AF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2004-09-21|page=3B}}</ref>

==Venues==
===Current===
====Wells Fargo Arena====
[[Image:Wellsfargoarena.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Wells Fargo Arena]]
{{Main|Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines, Iowa)}}
Named for title sponsor [[Wells Fargo]] Financial Services, [[Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines)|Wells Fargo Arena]] has been the Des Moines area's primary venue for sporting events and concerts since it opened on July 12, 2005. The state high school wrestling and basketball tournaments have been held there since 2006.  In fall 2007, it became home to the [[Iowa Energy]] (later named [[Iowa Wolves]]) of the [[NBA G League|NBA D-League/G League]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Witosky|title=Des Moines set to announce new pro basketball team|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11795DCD572F5938&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2007-02-26}}</ref> The following spring, the reactivated [[Iowa Barnstormers (AF2)|Iowa Barnstormers]] [[arena football]] began playing at the Wells Fargo Arena.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Witosky|title=Barnstormers revived as af2 team|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11BCECC6EF53C8A0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2007-09-20}}</ref> Wells Fargo Arena seats 15,181 for hockey games, 16,110 for basketball games, and as many as 16,980 for concerts.<ref>{{cite web|author=Global Spectrum|title=Iowa Events Center - Arena Info - Wells Fargo Arena|url=http://www.iowaeventscenter.com/arena_info_wells_fargo.aspx|accessdate=2008-02-02|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807123134/http://www.iowaeventscenter.com/arena_info_wells_fargo.aspx|archivedate=2008-08-07}}</ref>

====EMC Expo Center====
[[Image:HyVeeHall.jpg|thumb|250px|right|EMC Expo Center]]
{{Main|EMC Expo Center}}
EMC Expo Center (formerly named Hy-Vee Hall, which the [[Hy-Vee]] supermarket chain (based in [[West Des Moines]]) owned the [[naming rights]] to), is the Iowa Events Center's new exhibition hall. It features 100,000 square feet (9,000 m<sup>2</sup>) of space for trade shows, conventions, and other major events. It also features eight meeting rooms with a total of 15,000 square feet (1,400 m<sup>2</sup>) of meeting space.<ref name="facilities">{{cite web|author=Global Spectrum|title=Iowa Events Center - About Facilities|url=http://www.iowaeventscenter.com/cc_facilities.aspx|accessdate=2008-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105165406/http://www.iowaeventscenter.com/cc_facilities.aspx|archive-date=2009-01-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> The south end of Hy-Vee Hall houses the Iowa Hall of Pride, which honors the achievements of Iowa high school athletes and performers.

Although it was still incomplete, Hy-Vee Hall hosted its first event, the Autumn Festival, from October 21 through October 23, 2004. It was formally dedicated on December 15, 2004,<ref>{{cite news|first=Elizabeth|last=Owens|title=Open house showcases new building|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10721A65091B3E0E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2004-12-19|page=4B}}</ref> while the Iowa Hall of Pride opened to the public on February 23, 2005.<ref>{{cite news|first=Erin|last=Morain|title=Iowa Hall of Pride opens as sports fans fill Greater Des Moines|url=http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp?ArticleID=2191&SectionID=30&SubSectionID=42&S=1|work=Des Moines Business Record|date=2005-02-20}}</ref>

====Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center====
[[Image:VetsAuditorium.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center]]
{{Main|Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center}}
Originally an arena known as Veterans Memorial Auditorium that served as home to [[Drake University]] basketball and [[New York Dragons|Iowa Barnstormers]] [[arena football]], Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center was renovated and reopened as a convention hall in January 2012.

===Former===
====Polk County Convention Complex====<!-- This section is linked from [[Des Moines, Iowa]] -->
[[Image:ConventionComplex.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Polk County Convention Complex]]
Nicknamed "The Plex" the Polk County Convention Complex opened in 1985. It features {{convert|60000|sqft|m2}} of exhibition space on two levels and 27 meeting rooms.<ref name="facilities"/> Polk County originally planned to close the Convention Complex when Hy-Vee Hall opened, but they decided to transfer management of the building to Global Spectrum in August 2004.<ref>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Santiago|title=Manager, Polk ink arena deal|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DMRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=104B34764C4487DF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2004-08-24|page=1A}}</ref> While the Convention Complex is located south of the other buildings, Global Spectrum marketed it as part of the Iowa Events Center.  The facility has since been converted into a YMCA.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.iowaeventscenter.com Iowa Events Center]
* [http://www.iowahallofpride.com Iowa Hall of Pride]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060212202144/http://www.absolutedsm.com/Projects%20and%20Construction/Iowa_Events_Center/iowa_events_center.htm Iowa Events Center photo gallery] from AbsoluteDSM.com

{{Des Moines}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|41.591944|N|93.621667|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Event venues established in 2003]]
[[Category:Convention centers in Iowa]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Des Moines, Iowa]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Des Moines, Iowa]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Iowa]]