(West Des Moines, IA) -- The City of West Des Moines has cut the ribbon on it's nearly $60 million, 300,000 square foot MidAmerican Energy Rec Plex at 65-hundred Grand Avenue.
The facility has a wide range of indoor and outdoor space for recreation and sports.
There are two ice arenas. The main rink has a seating capacity of up to 2,400 people. It also converts to a 20,000 square foot convention space during the off-season The second rink seats up to 300 spectators. The facility also features a wide range if indoor and outdoor venues for sports, including basketball, volleyball, and pickelball. There are also batting cages and space that can be used for practices, birthday parties or kids camps. The Rec Plex also features an indoor soccer field. There are also concessions and internet access throughout.
There are three full-size outdoor, synthetic turf fields, with night lighting.
The Rec Plex also features an Esports center and community and activity rooms.
RecPlex General Manager Shayne Ratcliff says there are 40-tournaments already booked for this year. The RecPlex has also also been awarded the NAIA Men's Volleyball tourney in 2022 and 2023. Ratcliff says the size of the facility as well as it's location is ideal for state, regional, and national sports tourney organizers. He also says there are 18-hotels nearby but expects more hotels to be built nearby to meet the demand for out-of-state sports teams.
The total project cost $59 million dollars. Most of the funds are from city bonds, hotel motel tax revenue, and corporate and private donations. Financing also came from loans, local option sales tax revenue, tax increment financing, state and local grants.
Photo: Sue Danielson