Buccaneer Arena
The Madhouse on Hickman | |
 | |
  Buccaneer Arena Location within Iowa  Buccaneer Arena Location within the United States | |
| Former names | Des Moines Ice Arena (1961–1973) Metro Ice Sports Arena (1973–2004) 95-KGGO Arena (2005–2008) |
|---|---|
| Location | 7201 Hickman Road Urbandale, Iowa 50322 |
| Owner | Orchard View Sports & Entertainment, LLC |
| Operator | Orchard View Sports & Entertainment, LLC |
| Capacity | 3,461, standing room 700 |
| Surface | Ice |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1960 |
| Opened | November 12, 1961 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Tenants | |
| Des Moines Oak Leafs/Capitols (USHL/IHL) (1961–1975) Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) (1980–present) Iowa Demon Hawks (MASL2) (2023–present) | |
Buccaneer Arena is a 3,461-seat, with standing room for an additional 700, multi-purpose arena in Urbandale, Iowa, that is home to the Des Moines Buccaneers ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League. Before the Bucs began playing in 1980, the International Hockey League's Des Moines Oak Leafs and Des Moines Capitols franchise played here.
Building history
[edit]The arena opened on November 12, 1961[1] as the Des Moines Ice Arena. It was later renamed the Metro Ice Sports Arena before becoming Buccaneer Arena in mid-2004. On September 22, 2005, Buccaneer Arena was renamed 95-KGGO Arena after Citadel Broadcasting, owners of radio station KGGO, purchased the naming rights to the arena. It is nicknamed the "Madhouse on Hickman" for its location on Hickman Road.[2] In 2008, the arena changed its name back to Buccaneer Arena. In 2020, the arena's roof was damaged during the August 2020 Midwest derecho.[3]
Tenants
[edit]The arena served as home ice for the Des Moines Buccaneers' ten championship seasons in the 1990s: Anderson Cup regular season champions in 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99; Clark Cup playoff champions in 1992, 1995, 1999, 2006; and Gold Cup Junior A champions in 1992, 1995, 1998. Following the damage to the roof in 2020, the team was forced to start the 2020–21 season at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.[3] In November 2020, the team announced it would be replacing the old arena as part of a project to turn the former Younkers department store location in Merle Hay Mall into a new 3,500-seat, $59 million arena.[4] Buccaneer Arena completed repairs in January 2021, and plans to build the new hockey arena within the mall would fall through in July of 2024 due to the team's lease expiring. Mall officials have also stated they will continue to build the new venue and are open to renegotiating their lease with the team as well.[5]
In August 2024, the Buccaneers announced they would temporarily move to the MidAmerican Energy Co. Recplex located in West Des Moines for the 2024-25 USHL season due to a mechanical issue that would delay the arena's ability to make ice prior to the team's season opening game the following month. In the same statement, team officials also proclaimed they would continue to make the arena operational again until "it is no longer sustainable to do."[6]
In 2007, the arena hosted the College Hockey America championship tournament.[7] The arena has also hosted mixed martial arts.[8] It is also where the Paul Robidoux got his start as the worlds premier intermission announcer.
References
[edit]- ^ "Leafs Hand Metros 10-1 Loss in Debut". Milwaukee Sentinel. November 13, 1963. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
- ^ "Buccaneer Arena Reviews, Des Moines Buccaneers | Stadium Journey". www.stadiumjourney.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-18.
- ^ a b "Des Moines Buccaneers to open season at Wells Fargo Arena". KCCI. October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team moving to new 3,500-seat arena at Merle Hay Mall". The Des Moines Register. November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Des Moines Buccaneers out of Merle Hay hockey arena plan; mall says an arena is still a go".
- ^ "Des Moines Bucs to relocate after mechanical issues at home arena. Where will they play?".
- ^ "CHA Heads To Iowa For 2007 Tournament :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". Archived from the original on 2016-02-04.
- ^ "Victory FC 48 heads to Iowa on Feb. 19 with Jackson vs. Moreno title fight". 26 January 2016.
Further reading
[edit]- Krull, Kirsten (27 October 2022). "There's no place like home for Des Moines Buccaneers". The Rink Live. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- Wolf, Sydney (29 August 2024). "Des Moines Buccaneers relocating venues for 2024-25 season". The Rink Live. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- Lathers, Addison; Joens, Philip (3 July 2024). "Des Moines Buccaneers out of Merle Hay hockey arena plan; mall says an arena is still a go". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- Clayworth, Jason (17 January 2024). "Stalled $60 million Bucs arena faces Iowa board". Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- "Des Moines Buccaneers playing home games in West Des Moines this season". KCCI. Hearst Television. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
External links
[edit]- Des Moines Buccaneers official website
- RinkAtlas listing for Buccaneer Arena
- Buccaneer Arena seating chart
41°36′56″N 93°43′4″W / 41.61556°N 93.71778°W
- Ice hockey venues in the United States
- Sports in Des Moines, Iowa
- Sports venues in Greater Des Moines
- Sports venues in Iowa
- Buildings and structures in Polk County, Iowa
- Tourist attractions in Polk County, Iowa
- Urbandale, Iowa
- 1961 establishments in Iowa
- Sports venues completed in 1961
- Midwestern United States sports venue stubs
- Iowa building and structure stubs
- Iowa sport stubs