WHO WE ARE
AS THE DES MOINES AREA SPORTS COMMISSION, Catch Des Moines is your all-star teammate when it comes to planning sporting events — big or small. Once known as a quiet insurance town, Greater Des Moines has become one of the Midwest’s top sports destinations, hosting events like the National Senior Games, USA Volleyball All-Star Championships, and USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals. With world-class facilities like the country’s largest skate park, an iconic track and field venue, and new developments always in the works, we don’t just play the game — we level it up. But here’s the real MVP move: Partnering with us means you don’t have to tackle the planning alone. Our strong relationships with venues help streamline proposals and secure the perfect location. Need hotel room blocks? We’ve got the connections to make it happen. Want marketing support and a warm Des Moines welcome for your attendees? Consider it done. From youth tournaments to national championships, we’ll handle the logistics so you can focus on the action. Bring your event to Greater Des Moines, and we’ll help you turn it into a slam dunk success!
Greg Edwards President & CEO greg@catchdesmoines.com (515) 699-3438
Bailee Arnburg Director of Sports bailee@catchdesmoines.com (515) 699-3445
Natalie Rigatuso
Sports Events Manager natalie@catchdesmoines.com (515) 699-3455
Ben Sloan
Sports Coordinator bens@catchdesmoines.com (515) 699-3465
MEET OUR DREAM TEAM
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Dew Tour. AAU Junior Olympic Games. IRONMAN. Drake Relays. All the hottest tickets in town come courtesy of our Sports Sales team, who consistently hit it out of the park. Whether its hosting site visits, locking in events, working through logistics, or even keeping the athletes hydrated, they raise the bar from the moment the pen hits the paper all the way through the finish line (even picking up trash after). Simply put, they’re Des Moines’ biggest cheerleaders. LET’S GO!
DES MOINES IS THE BEST SITE I’VE EVER BEEN A PART OF.”
REGGIE MILLER NBA HALL OF FAMER
IOWA EVENTS CENTER
28,800-square-foot ballroom
236,500 square feet of flexible meeting space
40 meeting rooms
Attached 330-room Hilton hotel
Tax exempt facility
1,400 on-site parking spaces
Wells Fargo Arena*
EMC Expo Center
Community Choice Convention Center
*Casey’s Center beginning July 1, 2025
IOWA EVENTS CENTER
EMC Expo Center
150,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space
10,560-square-foot junior ballroom
35’ ceilings
Concrete surface
EVENTS HOSTED
National Veterans Golden Age Games
USA Gymnastics
Nike Tournament of Champions
Iowa State 8 & 9 Ball Championships
Battle of The Best
USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals
Midwest JVA Challenge
Chow’s Annual Winter Classic Invitational
USA Volleyball All-Star Championships
WATCH OUR SPORTS HYPE VIDEO!
Wells Fargo Arena*
16,980 seats
35,100 square feet of arena surface
Operated by OVG360
Home to the Iowa Wild, Iowa Wolves, and Iowa Barnstormers
EVENTS HOSTED
NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Regional Finals
NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Iowa Boys & Girls High School State Basketball Championships
Iowa Boys High School State Wrestling Tournament
*Casey’s Center beginning July 1, 2025
CATCH DES MOINE S
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY RECPLEX
3,200 square feet of community rooms that can be subdivided into three separate rooms
2,200-square-foot overlook room on mezzanine level looking out over the indoor turf field
Rooms feature wiring for audio and video needs, television, tables, and chairs for groups
1,200 on-site parking spaces
Food concessions
EVENTS HOSTED
USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals
Midwest JVA Volleyball Championships
Des Moines Youth Hockey Rumble at the RecPlex
MLQ – Major League Quadball
AAU Junior Olympics (taekwando, fencing, trampoline and tumbing, karate, jump rope, cup stacking, wrestling)
All-Iowa Attack Midwest Festival of Teams Basketball Tournament
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY
COMPANY RECPLEX
Abel Ice Arena – Rink No. 1:
2,400 spectator capacity dry floor events; 1,500 permanent, 2,000 standing room capacity ice events
20,000 square feet of flexible convention space
Patty & Jim Cownie Family Ice Arena – Rink No. 2:
300 spectator capacity
17,000 square feet of usable space on rink floor
Hy-Vee Fieldhouse:
30,000 total square feet
Three full-size (94’x50’) basketball courts or six full-size (59’x29.5’) volleyball courts on solid maple hardwood featuring scoreboard, shot clocks, and seating with divider curtains and portable bleachers
Indoor Turf Field:
80,000 total square feet
Full-size soccer field measuring 355’x 245’ featuring scoreboards, a sound system, and divider curtains to segment the field into three separate areas
Three full-size pickleball courts with divider curtains
5,000 square feet of batting/warm up turf area
Outdoor Turf Fields:
Three full-size (94’x50’) basketball courts or six full-size (59’ x 29.5’) volleyball courts on solid maple hardwood featuring scoreboard, shot clocks, and seating with divider curtains and portable bleachers
Esports Center:
Over 3,500 square feet including 30 high-powered PCs, six consoles, lounge seating, LED lighting, and a sound system
Midwest
USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals
AAU Junior Olympic Games
JVA Volleyball Championships
IOWA STATE FAIRGROUNDS
EVENTS HOSTED
National Junior High Finals Rodeo
NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship
Varsity Cheer US Finals
Iowa State Wrestling Futures State Championship
Showstopper American Dance Regional Competition
JACOBSON EXHIBITION CENTER
Jacobson Exhibition Center
IOWA STATE FAIRGROUNDS
Jacobson Exhibition Center
32,000-square-foot arena floor
18,000-square-foot indoor warmup area
30 — 50 foot ceilings
3,300 seats
EVENTS HOSTED
National Junior High Finals Rodeo
NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship
US Finals Des Moines – Cheer & Dance
Chow’s Annual Winter Classic Invitational
Varied Industries Building
110,400 total square feet of exhibit space
480 x 230 foot exhibit hall
14’ ceiling at perimeter
29’ ceiling at center
4-H Building
41,086 total square feet of exhibit space
36,166-square-foot exhibit hall
FUN FACT
Every August, more than a million visitors from around the world come to the iconic Iowa State Fair, making it the state’s largest event.
Watch our starting lineup of venues Video!
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
EVENTS HOSTED
Drake Relays
USATF Outdoor Championships
NCAA Men’s & Women’s D1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Drake Stadium
14,558 seating capacity
Eight lane mondo surface track
Artificial grass infield
Two field event venues Historic Blue Oval known to host Olympic and World Champions
Knapp Center
114,000 square feet on two levels
71,000 square feet on main level
7,152-seat arena
Five universal courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton
Home to Drake University Men’s and Women’s basketball programs
Mediacom Field
Full-size synthetic turf field
4,000 seating capacity
Large scoreboard/videoboard with full video and sound capabilities
Waukee Natatorium
Olympic-size pool
Competition pool can support two full 25-yard, eightlane competitions simultaneously 25-yard, four-lane warm-up pool
Two 3-meter diving bords
Four 1-meter diving boards
1,000 seating capacity
13 feet deep
EVENTS HOSTED
2025 MVC Simming and Diving Conference Championships
Downtown Wellmark YMCA
50-meter indoor Olympic size pool
Eight 50-meter lanes
Depth varies from 7’ to 10’8”
1,200 above-deck seating capacity
Four lane warm-up & cool down pool
EVENTS HOSTED
TYR Pro Series
USA Swimming Speedo Sectionals
AAU Junior Olympic Games
National Senior Games
Hy-Vee MultiPlex
Powered by the City of Grimes
50-acre synthetic turf multisport complex
Six pods (184,000 square feet of turf each)
12 full-size soccer fields (385’ x 265’)
18 baseball and softball fields, batting cages, and bullpens
Portable fencing for different sizing of fields
1,225 parking stalls
Two concession/restroom buildings
Complete Musco Lighting
James W. Cownie Soccer Park
12 irrigated real grass fields (385’ x 265’)
Four fields include lights and permanent scoreboards
Championship level field with seating for 2,000 fans, press box, and audio and video capabilities
Three parking lots with ample parking spaces
Large concessions and restroom facility on site
EVENTS HOSTED
JOAD Archery
Co-ed State Soccer
USYS President’s Cup USA Ultimate
Prairie Trail Sports Complex
24,000 square feet of gym space
Eight basketball courts
10 volleyball courts
12 pickleball courts
Four tennis courts
Turf mezzanine
Large parking lot with ample parking spaces
Portable bleachers available
THE FIELDHOUSE
Prairie Ridge Youth Sports Complex
90 acres of total turf
15 baseball and six softball fields
Nine soccer fields
Five football fields
1,200 parking stalls
Walking trails, play equipment, open space, and two ponds for fishing
MOINE S
WEST GYM
Gregg Young Sports Campus
Fareway Fields
10 acres of mutisport turf fields
Four full-size soccer fields (385’x265’)
Eight baseball/softball fields
Portable fencing available as a tool to modify the size of fields
Concession stands and restrooms
City Bank Norwalk Fieldhouse
41,000 total square feet
Four multipurpose courts with vinyl flooring (drop-down dividers available)
Two lane indoor walking/running track
Concessions
Portable bleachers
Public Restrooms
Sportsplex Norwalk
11,000 total square feet of indoor Field Turf
Nine divider nets to make complex flexible for any turf sports
Lauridsen Skatepark
88,000 square feet
Park and street courses
Designed by California Skateparks
Certified by USA Skateboarding
Modern restrooms available to park users
100 parking spaces
Features full lighting system
EVENTS HOSTED
Olympic qualifier event for Dew Tour
Des Moines Streetstyle Open
Hot Wheels Superchargers
VOLLEYBALL
SOCCER
SWIMMING
TRACK & FIELD
WRESTLING
FIND THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOUR TEAM
WITH 13,000+ HOTEL ROOMS ACROSS GREATER
DES MOINES, we’ve got the right stay for every player, coach, and fan. Whether your crew wants a boutique experience or prefers to rack up points with a trusted national brand, they’ll always be close to top-notch dining, shopping, and entertainment. Plenty of ways to check in. Even more ways to check out the city. Let us help you find the perfect place to rest, recharge, and get ready for game day.
flydsm.com
*Some
Nonstop flights from Des Moines
Atlanta
Austin
Boston
Charlotte
Chicago (ORD)
Dallas
Denver
Destin
Detroit
Ft. Lauderdale
Houston (HOU)
Houston (IAH)
Jacksonville
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Miami
Minneapolis
Nashville
New York City (LGA)
Newark
Orange County
Orlando (MCO)
Orlando (SFB)
Philadelphia
Phoenix (AZA)
Phoenix (PHX)
Portland
Punta Gorda
San Diego
Sarasota
St. Louis
St. Petersburg
Washington, D.C.
CENTRALLY LOCATED
LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY, Greater Des Moines is easily accessible for event attendees by land or air. For those who prefer a road trip, this capital city is nestled at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 35. For the frequent fliers, Des Moines International Airport offers 160 flights a day, with more than 30 direct flights to major U.S. cities.
700-MILE RADIUS FROM DES MOINES
Mileage and drive time to Des Moines
BOSOTN
PHILADELPHIA
JACKSONVILLE
MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS
VISITORS RAVE ABOUT OUR ICONIC festivals and events, farm-to-fork cuisine, 800 miles of hiking and biking trails, great shopping, and much more. As a major art destination in the Midwest, Greater Des Moines is living proof that sometimes the best art doesn’t come in a frame. From museums and galleries to Broadway shows and concerts, there’s so much to do in Greater Des Moines.
ADVENTURE
ADVENTURELAND PARK
Featuring an amusement park with more than 100 rides, a water park with multiple slides and two swim-up bars, you’re assured a fun-filled day (or weekend) of family fun.
HIGH TRESTLE TRAIL
25 miles of exploration, anchored by the iconic and illuminated 13-story High Trestle Bridge, one of the largest trail bridges in the world.
LAURIDSEN SKATEPARK
Nestled along the Des Moines Riverwalk is Lauridsen Skatepark, which at 88,000 square feet, if the largest skate park in the country. Even if you don’t skate, it’s rad to take in all the sights, including a skatable WOW sculpture.
LIVING HISTORY FARMS
We’re not all farms, but the ones we do have are pretty epic. Four different farms tell the story of Iowa’s 300-year-old history, featuring everything from a blacksmith shop to old-timey baseball games.
PRAIRIE MEADOWS CASINO, RACETRACK, AND HOTEL
The Vegas of Greater Des Moines by way of Altoona features 85,000 square feet of casino action, 1,700 slot machines, sports betting, a world-class steakhouse, and horse racing May – September.
PRINCIPAL PARK
Catch a rising star, or a hot dog, at the AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, located at beautiful Principal Park along the river. Go, Iowa Cubs, go!
SMASH PARK
A one-of-a-kind social entertainment and events venue with American street style eats and hand-crafted cocktails. Featuring Iowa’s largest patio and 70+ HDTVs, and don’t forget games. Smash Park is equipped with six pickleball courts, a full arcade, shuffleboard, bocce ball, ping pong, cornhole, and more!
TOPGOLF
Tee off at Topgolf in West Des Moines with over 70 all-weather driving range bays, a 22-foot video wall, and more than 100 HDTVs. Fore!
TOURNAMENT CLUB OF IOWA
Designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, with elevation changes and beautiful vistas, it’s one of the most picturesque golf courses in the state.
EDUCATIONAL
BLANK PARK ZOO
This 49-acre zoo on the south side of the city includes exhibits such as tigers, seals, lions, giraffes, lemurs, red pandas, and rhinos. The fun is almost unbearable.
GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN
Rain or shine, things are always in bloom at this beautiful, 7-acre public garden in the heart of downtown.
IOWA STATE CAPITOL
The only five-domed capitol in the country includes 100 rooms of amazing history, including the magnificent law library, the most photographed room in the state. Free self-guided tours available.
JOHN AND MARY PAPPAJOHN SCULPTURE PAR K
4.4 acres of awe-inspiring art and countless selfie opportunities abound in the crown jewel of downtown. More than 30 works of art make this the perfect place to unwind and get in touch with your artsy side.
SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA
Centrally located in downtown Des Moines, SCI features interactive exhibits and unique programming to encourage learning and fun for all ages.
SHOPPING
DOWNTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET
Every Saturday morning from May to October, more than 25,000 people gather on Court Avenue to enjoy food, music, murals, and more than 300 vendors. It’s a Des Moines bucket list item.
JORDAN CREEK TOWN CENTER
Located right off Interstate 80 in West Des Moines, this entertainment district features a two-level enclosed mall with 100+ retailers, a movie theater, and restaurants. The surrounding area includes even more entertainment options, ranging from luxury bowling lanes to escape rooms and adult arcades.
OUTLETS OF DES MOINES
Outlets of Des Moines is an open-air shopping destination in Altoona where you can shop the biggest names in fashion including Michael Kors, kate spade new york, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Under Armour Factory House.
GET A TASTE OF GREATER DES MOINES
TREAT YOUR ATTENDEES TO GREATER DES MOINES’ celebrated farm-to-fork food scene (we practically invented it). Taste the bold flavors of our James Beard-nominated chefs or indulge in authentic Des Moines eats like the breaded pork tenderloin, Steak de Burgo, Crab Rangoon pizza, or a hot beef sandwich. Discover the best versions of each one with our locally sourced lists and videos at desbestdsm.com, and keep your eyes peeled for the Des Best emblem around Greater Des Moines, meaning something has been recognized by locals as the best around.
LEVEL UP YOUR EXPERIENCE
At Catch Des Moines, we don’t just help bring sporting events to our city – we become part of your team. From the first conversation to the final whistle, our staff works relentlessly to ensure your event isn’t just good, it’s legendary. We hustle behind the scenes, sweat the small stuff, and go the extra mile so you don’t have to.
WE’LL COACH YOU THROUGH HOW TO
Scout the City: Visitor Guides & Maps
Give your attendees the home-field advantage with our Catch Des Moines Visitor Guide — a one-stop resource for top restaurants, attractions, hotels, and more. We also provide a double-sided grid map featuring the full metro and a detailed look at downtown Des Moines, so no one gets lost on their way to the action.
Score Exclusive Deals & Discounts
Everyone loves a good win, and we’re serving up exclusive discounts to restaurants, retailers, and attractions across the metro. We can even provide a custom QR code for your group, unlocking even more great deals — because game day deserves great savings.
Roll Out the Welcome Mat
From banners and signage to ice chests and windscreens, we’ve got everything you need to make a big first impression. Want to think outside the box? Bring us your ideas, and we’ll find a way to make it happen.
Boost Your Event with Marketing & Promotion*
Our in-house marketing team can help you hype up your event and get it in front of the right audience. Whether it’s digital promotions, social media exposure, or customized marketing materials, we’ll build a game plan to match your goals. *Fees may apply for this service.
NEED AN ASSIST?
Catch Crew: Your Event Support Team*
Our Catch Crew is made up of local experts ready to help with registration, merchandise sales, visitor info booths, and more. Just give us the details—date, location, time, and on-site contact—and we’ll be there to back you up. *Fees may apply for this service.
GAME-CHANGING DEVELOPMENTS ON THE HORIZON:
MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex Expansion – Plans are underway to add up to 100,000 square feet to the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex, including a third ice arena with seating for approximately 3,000. Construction is set to begin in fall 2025, with projected completion in 2026.
Des Moines International Airport Expansion – A $445 million project aims to increase the number of gates from 12 to 18 and add over 1,100 parking spaces. Completion of the first phase is anticipated in 2026, with additional work extending through 2027.
Ignit Sports & Fitness Complex – This proposed 208,000-square-foot facility in Johnston is expected to feature an indoor track, full-size indoor soccer field, eight multi-purpose courts, meeting spaces, fitness areas, and outdoor recreation areas. The project has received site plan approval, with construction timelines to be determined.
ICON Water Trails Project – Some phases of this initiative to enhance Central Iowa’s waterways are already complete. Future plans include whitewater features, improved access points, and recreational amenities, with sections in Des Moines expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
BRING IT! OUR CITY SAYS