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A
Welcome
to
this
edition
of
City
spotlight,
Des
Moines
is
a
great
place
for
athletic
events,
whether
they're
at
wells,
fargo
arena
or
the
iowa
cubs
ballpark
principal
park.
We
are
going
to
take
a
tour
quickly
around
and
see
some
of
the
professional
athletics
events
and
talk
to
some
of
their
directors
and
managers
and
we're
going
to
start
right
now
with
randy
way
over
some
of
the
iowa
cubs
randy
welcome
to
city
spotlight
thanks.
A
Thanks
for
being
here,
oh
absolutely
talk
to
us
a
little
about
the
history
of
the
iowa.
Cubs
baseball
is
going
on
a
long
time
in
the
City
of
Des
Moines,
and
you
know
it
used
to
be
SEC,
Taylor
stadium
and
probably
before
that
it
was
something
else.
But
Tucker's
a
little
bit
about
the
history
baseball.
B
Dates
back
professional
baseball
even
to
the
early
part
of
the
20th
century,
and
triple-a
baseball
came
to
Des
Moines
in
1969
and
iowa
oaks
for
the
team
and
baltimore
orioles
affiliate
that
first
year
and
change
quickly
to
the
Chicago
White
Sox.
We
had
a
great
relationship
when
the
likes
of
Tony
LaRussa
and
some
other
famous
people
made
their
way
goose,
Gossage
who's
in
the
hall
of
fame.
B
And
then
we
joined
the
Chicago
Cubs
as
their
triple-a
affiliate
in
1981
and
adopted
the
iowa
cubs
name
in
1982,
and
it's
been
that
way
ever
since
and
we're
right
now.
The
7th
longest
partnership
between
major
league
team,
in
a
minor
league
city
and
in
the
country
and
four
of
those
teams
ahead
of
us
are
owned
by
their
major
league
team.
So
we're
really
in
a
rare
group
for
this
long
term,
great
relationship
that
we've
enjoyed
as
a
triple-a
affiliate
of
the
cups
well.
A
B
That's
a
part
of
our
our
baseball
history,
but
we
try
to
celebrate
that
passed
within
the
the
current
ballpark
you'll,
see
in
the
concourse
a--'s
and
the
concession
areas,
the
names
for
the
Bruins
and
the
demons
and
some
of
the
old
names
on
the
concession
stands.
We
were
even
the
Undertaker's
at
one
point:
why
are
single
a
history
yeah?
What
was
there
that.
B
I'm
not
so
sure
that
would
go
over
real
well
anymore,
but
it's
kind
of
fun
to
look
back.
We
have
some
hats
for
that
down
in
the
backstop
store,
but
the
Iowa
Oaks
is
the
other
name
that
is
traditionally
associated
with
the
club,
and
that
was
the
first
triple
a
name,
and
that
was
we
do
some
throwback
jersey
nights
with
the
Iowa
Oaks
nights.
We've
got
some
merchandise
with
that
and
try
to
celebrate
that
as
much
as
possible
to
talk.
B
Fixed
capacity
is
11,500,
so
that's
all
the
sky
boxes
and
the
seats,
and
then
we've
got
room
for
general
admission
in
our
picnic
areas
and
the
bleachers
in
right
field.
So
we've
put
12
13
up
to
14,000
people.
Here
we
even
had
18,000
people
for
the
Dave
Matthews
concert
a
couple
of
years
ago
in
the
fall,
and
we
could
put
people
on
the
field
in
front
of
the
stage
as
part
of
that
event
also.
So
he
did
that
once
for
Bob
Dylan
to.
A
B
Work
without
those
the
support
of
the
entire
community,
you
need
people
coming
to
the
games.
You
need
support
from
the
City
of
Des
Moines.
It's
been
a
great
relationship
as
part
of
it
having
the
stadium
as
part
of
downtown
Des,
Moines
and
really
kind
of
a
fixture
here
at
the
confluence
of
the
rivers
and
such
a
beautiful
view
with
the
capital
over
the
wall
in
center
field
and
all
the
things
that
it
takes
to
maintain
and
respond,
and
we've
had
the
flood
situations
and
other
things
like
that.
B
Come
up
and
we
all
work
together
to
get
through
that
and
it's
a
great
relationship,
but
the
business
community
and
the
sponsorships
that
we
have
the
season
ticket
holders.
The
fans
that
come
twice
a
year,
they're
all
important
to
the
livelihood
of
the
iowa
cubs
and
des
moines,
the
smallest
market
and
the
Pacific
Coast
League,
where
we
play,
but
we
rank
annually.
Fourth
or
fifth
and
average
attendance,
so
I
think.
B
They're
one
of
the
top
Sacramento
is
one
of
the
top
that
ranks
ahead
of
us,
usually,
but
only
look
at
Memphis
and
Nashville
two
great
towns
and
they're
consistently
looking
up
at
us
in
the
attendant
standings
and
their
division,
rivals
to
Omaha
for
that
matter.
Also,
so
the
teams
that
we
battle
against
on
the
field.
We
keep
an
eye
on
the
attendance
battle
for
the
front
office's.
That's
that's
part
of
our
game,
but
there's
a
great
sense
of
cooperation
in
mono
league
baseball
too.
B
A
We
have
not
only
locally
and
regionally
a
good
relationship
with
the
mayor's,
but
also,
of
course,
Kevin
Johnson.
The
mayor
of
sacramento
and
I
have
some
challenges
going
every
now
and
then
so.
Next
time
we
play
them.
Let
me
know,
and
I
will
we'll
put
a
little
challenge
out
to
Kevin
and
see
how
the
Cubs
do
against
the
sacramento
team.
We.
B
A
B
Play
72
home
games
on
144
total
and
we
start
early
April
and
go
through
Labor
Day
weekend
and
the
years
that
we're
fortunate
to
make
the
playoffs
a
couple
weeks
even
beyond
that,
but
it's
the
everyday
nature
of
baseball
and
that's
one
of
the
great
things
if
you
can't
come
on
Thursday,
there's,
probably
a
good
chance,
we'll
be
home
on
Friday,
and
if
you
miss
this
home
standard,
there's
going
to
be
another
one
coming
up
soon.
So
the
you
know
the
nature
everyday
nature
of
baseball
is
one
of
the
great
joys
of
the
game.
A
B
There's
always
a
if
you
don't
like
the
way
things
turned
out
today.
You
can
put
it
behind
you
pretty
quickly
and
move
on
from
a
player
perspective,
and
it
gives
us
an
opportunity
to
do
a
wide
variety
of
promotions
to
entertain
a
wide
variety
of
audience.
You
could
see
everybody
from
2
to
102
all
shapes
sizes
and
colors
come
through
the
ballpark,
and
that's
one
of
the
great
things
about
the
baseball
experience
as
it's
universal.
Oh.
A
Absolutely-
and
you
know
one
of
the
things
that
I
enjoy
when
I
have
guests
in
that
want
to
see
des
moines
and
its
enduring
the
base
policies,
and
we
try
to
get
them
down
here
to
see
this
and
they
are
so
impressed
with
this
park
because
they
almost
feel
some
of
these
guys
come
in.
You
know
from
major
league
cities
and
they
really
like
our
ballpark,
talk
to
us
a
little
bit
about
that
experience
and
what
people
can
do
and
feel
whether
it's
game
day
or
whether
it's
come
club
or
whatever.
A
B
Principal
Park
is
kind
of
like
Des
Moines
in
the
area
itself.
Whatever
kind
of
lifestyle
you
want
to
live,
we
can
afford
it
to
you
if
you
want
to
be
in
a
skybox
and
have
that
major
league
experience
with
people
a
waitress
and
later
bringing
you
food
and
drinks
during
the
game.
We
provide
that
experience.
If
you
want
to
sit
out
in
the
bleachers
with
your
friends
and
have
a
hot
dog
and
yell
at
the
outfielders,
and
we
can.
B
Yeah,
that's
part
of
a
small
it
kind
of
part
of
the
right
of
coming
to
a
game,
but
you
know
we
have
the
the
box
seat
experience.
We
have
four
different
picnic
areas
for
group,
outings
and
picnics,
and
not
only
companies
for
church
groups
and
a
wide
variety
of
people
take
advantage
of
those.
We've
got
the
fountain
and
right
field.
B
On
hot
days
from
the
press
box,
I
look
down
and
it's
fun
to
see
the
little
wet
footprints
along
the
walkway
from
the
kids
that
have
gone
out
to
the
fountain
and
come
back
to
their
seats.
They
have
a
playground
in
the
concourse
over
on
the
first
base
side,
you've
got
a
beautiful
view
of
downtown
from
the
right-field
corner,
the
Capitol
above
the
wall
in
center
field,
the
rivers
meeting
behind
the
right
field
corner,
and
it
just
provides
a
little
bit
of
everything.
B
We
take
a
lot
of
pride
in
the
outside
grounds
as
well
as,
what's
going
on
inside.
We
can't
always
guarantee
that
we're
going
to
have
the
best
team
year
in
and
year
out,
we
can
control
how
clean
and
safe
the
stadium
is.
What
our
customer
service
is
like?
We
try
to
present
a
major
league
experience
at
a
mono
league
price.
Well,.
A
Talk
to
us
quickly
a
little
bit
about
the
relationship
between
the
iowa
cubs
and
the
Chicago
Cubs,
because
we
see
some
of
the
players
that
are
really
up
there,
Allstar
kind
of
folks,
it
maybe
get
injured
and
they
get
rehab
down
here
and
people
are
coming
and
going
all
the
time.
How
does
that
whole
thing
work?
The.
B
B
It
really
is
going
to
be
a
lot
of
fun
to
see
how
good
these
guys
really
are,
and
this
will
be
a
great
test
for
them.
So
we're
excited
about
what
the
Cubs
have
done,
even
though
they're
asking
for
a
lot
of
patience
from
the
fans
at
the
major
league
level.
While
they
build
up
this
foundation,
we're
going
to
be
an
important
part
of
that
foundation
and
when
they
do
well.
B
A
B
A
B
24
36
111
is
the
phone
number
to
the
switchboard
to
go
to
the
ticket
office
and
we've
got
any
number
of
people
on
our
staff
that
can
help
take
care
of
that.
That's
the
same
number
to
call
if
you
wanted
to
book
a
skybox
or
a
group
find
out
about
our
not
whole
game
for
kids,
maybe
one
of
the
best
deals
anywhere
in
professional
sports
for
nine
dollars.
B
Let
them
have
a
special
batting
practice
session,
get
out
on
the
field
before
the
game,
so
we
can
take
care
of
all
that
you
can
go
to
Iowa,
Cubs,
calm
and
there's
places
to
find
out
about
all
of
those
things
under
our
ticket
headline.
It's
the
first
thing
you
see
in
the
top
left
hand,
corner
right
under
the
logo
and.
A
For
we
have
young
people
old
people,
men,
women,
anybody
can
come
see
a
ball
game,
I
mean
we
have
handicapped
access
and
everything
can
you
talk
a
little
bit
about
that
access
because
I
don't
want
anybody
to
get
discouraged
that
they
can't
go
to
a
game
at
principal
Park
and
see
the
iowa
cubs
and
feel
limited
in
any
way.
Anybody.
B
Has
special
transportation
needs
with
buses
with
wheelchairs
and
things
we
have.
You
know:
curb,
drop
off
service,
pull
right
up
to
the
front
door,
and
let
you
out
there
make
your
way
in
we've
got
an
elevator
to
get
to
our
mezzanine
level,
where
our
main
picnic
areas
it's
covered
by
the
press
box,
so
whether
there's
a
threat
of
rain
or
hot
Sun
in
the
summer,
there's
always
some
protection
for
people
that
have
concerns
about
being
out
in
the
elements
and
being
exposed.
B
We
have
companion
seats
with
our
handicap
accessible
areas,
so
you
get
a
real
baseball
seat
to
sit
next
to
the
person
that
you're
bringing
to
the
game
to
share
that
experience
with
you.
Don't
have
to
be
isolated
from
your
family
and
friends,
just
because
you're
coming
with
a
wheelchair
or
some
other
special
needs.
We've
got
ramps
to
get
to
the
sitting
areas.
We've
got
an
elevator
in
the
outfield
suites
to
get
to
the
cub
club
restaurant.
A
C
Guess
this
is
my
fifth
year
at
the
Menace
and
I'm,
a
local
from
grinds
and
obviously
I
keep
coming
back
to
Des
Moines.
For
a
reason,
and
to
be
honest,
the
reason
is
we
have
a
great
fan
base
here.
I
think
this.
This
is
actually
a
crazy
sports
town
that
a
lot
of
people
underestimate
when
it
comes
to
their
sports
teams
across
the
board.
C
D
D
I
didn't
really
want
to
play
this
sport
because
I
felt,
like
it's
gonna,
beat
up
my
body
well
I'm
still
here
after
you
know
just
my
second
season
four
season
here,
I
actually
been
here
three,
but
this
is
my
second
full
season.
I
feel
like
the
more
is
calm
place.
I
felt
like
this
is
home.
You
know
I
can
go
to
eggs,
30
minutes
whenever
I
want
to
I
have
so
many
connections
here
from
coach
rolls
and
from
jon
peddie
and
coach
onc,
which
is
a
blessing
for
me.
A
Welcome
to
City
spotlight
here
we
are
at
Wells,
Fargo,
Arena
and
with
me,
is
John
Pettit
vice
president
and
chief
operating
officer
for
the
Iowa
Barnstormers.
You
know
the
Barnstormers
definitely
bring
the
cow
bell.
22
Wells,
Fargo
Arena
quickly
tell
us
in
tell
our
viewers
what
what's
the
atmosphere
like
during
barnstormers
game.
Well,.
E
A
E
You
know
the
Iowa
Barnstormers
started
95
and
your
most
famous
for
having
Curt
one
as
a
quarterback
and
Kurt.
You
wasn't
getting
to
look
by
any
NFL
teams
or
he
was
actually
bagging
groceries
for
hyvee
John
Gregory
brought
him
in.
He
became
a
success
in
arena
football
and
then
went
on
to
become
a
great
player
in
the
NFL
arena.
Football
you
know
was
founded
by
jim
foster,
whose
from
iowa
in
1987,
so
it's
got
a
long
history.
People
love
it.
E
A
To
us
a
little
bit
about,
you
know,
arena
football
history
and
a
little
bit
more
specifically.
You
know
the
Barnstormers
left
des
moines
for
a
while,
and
then
here
you
are
back
and
hopefully
more
exciting
than
ever,
but
went
away
what?
How
did
we
get
back
to
the
morning?
How
did
you
choose
to
come
back
to
the
morrow?
Well,.
E
Yeah
it's
funny
because
I
came
here
in
2004
with
another
team
and
I
had
worked
arena
football.
Many
years,
I
love
arena.
Football
was
with
the
old
Detroit
drive
and
back
in
Connecticut
with
the
city
Hawks.
When
I
came
here,
all
I
ever
got
told
was
when
I
was
with.
Another
team
was,
is
that
you
probably
know
nothing
about
arena
football,
but
it
was
very
popular.
I
said:
I
know
everything
there
is
to
know
about
the
Barnstormers
and
everything
else.
It
was
just
always
every
place.
E
You
went
you
talk,
so
you
know
definitely
started
talking
about
trying
to
bring
the
team
back
and
then
Jeff
land
birdie.
You
know
got
together
and
got
a
bunch
of
businessmen
together
who
decided
that
they
wanted
to
try
to
bring
it
back
called
me.
I
had
been
working
on
it
with
some
other
groups
about
trying
to
bring
it
back
and
really
if
it
wasn't
for
Jeff
getting
involved
and
getting
the
right
people
together
and
knew
that
was
just
great.
E
The
community
wanted
the
people
wanted
it
to
bring
it
back
and
got
local
owners
to
do
it.
So
that's
really
how
I
came
back
and
one
thing
we
came
back
as
a
f2
but
always
promised
that
the
economic
model
changed
and
we
could
work
it
out
to
bring
a
f1
back,
which
is
what
we're
in
now.
We
would
do
it
in
Jeff
vo
kept
his
word
and
we
kept
our
word
and
brought
it
back.
That's.
A
E
You
know,
first
of
all,
it
is
real
football,
it's
real
fun
and
we've
got
real
football
fans
as
well
as
family
and
and
it's
it's
close
football
fans
who
love
the
game,
and
we
know
football
is
king
you're
never
going
to
be
able
to
sit
closer
than
sitting
in
the
same
type
of
an
arena.
And
being
this
close,
you
know
arena
football
is
in
your
face
football.
The
players
come
in
the
stands.
You
get
to
keep
the
football.
The
football
comes
in
the
scenes
you
have
to
throw
the
player
back,
yeah.
A
E
You
know
you're
right
there
on
top
of
it
all,
so
it's
a
it's
a
FL
which
is
called
the
all
fun
league
instead
of
the
NFL
that
no
fun
League.
You
know
our
players
stay
out
on
the
field
for
an
hour
after
the
game
sign
anyone's
autographed
fans
are
all
allowed
to
come
down
onto
the
field
mingle
with
them
our
fans.
Our
players
are
out
in
the
community
and
part
of
this
community
and
they
love
doing
that.
What's.
E
Get
a
running
bulldog,
yeah
and
you've
got
walls.
I
mean
you
know.
People
talk
about
the
other
difference
of
the
game.
It's
hard-hitting
as
hard
hitting
at
the
NFL
and
you
have
to
deal
with
the
walls.
I
mean
you
only
have
two:
that's
probably
what
the
receivers
have
the
hardest
thing
with.
Is
you
know
dealing
with
the
walls?
You
got
to
get
guys
who
are
blind
to
that
wall
because
they
do
go
over
the
wall.
Oh
yeah,
you
go.
E
Tell
you
it's
a
sport
that
women
love,
you
know
once
they
come
to
the
game.
You
know
we're
probably
about
forty
five
percent
women
come
to
the
game
and
our
model
is
the
men
will
buy
the
tickets
and
the
women
renew
the
tickets,
because
data
said
I
think
it's
because
it's
so
fast-paced,
no
stop
action
and
they
just
stuff.
They
love
the
game.
Talk.
A
E
Well,
we
have
18
games,
nine
of
them
are
home.
We
start
in
March.
We
start
March
fifteenth
on
the
road.
Our
first
home
game
is
April
twelfth
against
San
Antonio.
Our
second
home
game
is
the
week
later,
April
nineteenth,
which
is
going
to
be
the
hall
of
fame
game
and
which
is
great
for
yo.
You
talk
about
Des
Moines
and
where
the
smallest
market
team,
or
probably
it
will
always
be
the
smallest
market
team.
E
In
this,
where
the
Green
Bay
of
the
AFL,
we
have
the
best
fans,
but
we
hosted
the
the
oath
of
the
game
last
year
of
and
the
league
loved
it.
So
much
being
here,
you
know
kind
of
where
the
birth
of
arena
football
and
they
decided
to
come
back
and
do
the
hall
of
fame
game
again
this
year
and
are
talking
about
maybe
doing
it
every
year
from
Des
Moines
Iowa.
So
we
think
that's
great
because
it
gets
us
great
national
exposure,
because
it's.
E
Of
it
and
and
they
love
it
and
they
acknowledge
that,
but
we're
also
playing
the
LA
kiss
that
night
and
that's
a
new
team
that
came
into
the
league
and
they're
actually
owned
by
Gene
Simmons
with
the
LA
with
a
kiss
we
can
do
a
halftime
show.
Maybe
we
like
to
see
we
go
to
look
out
here.
Hopefully
we
send
them
home
losers,
but
there.
A
A
F
G
A
Welcome
back
with
me
now
is
Matt
homing
off
from
the
Des
Moines
menace
Matt
welcome
to
City
spotlight.
Thanks
for
having
me,
you
bet,
let's
talk
a
little
bit
about
minutes
and
it's
in
its
history
and
how
you're
doing
and
where
we're
going
and
and
all
that
kind
of
stuff,
and
then
also
by
the
way
we've
got
women's
team
down
to
we.
H
Do
the
Menace
were
founded
in
nineteen
ninety-four,
so
we're
entering
our
21st
season
here
in
central
Iowa
the
opportunity
to
provide
a
high-level
soccer
for
players
who
are
either
in
college
or
just
finishing
up
their
university
opportunities
has
been
a
great
opportunity
for
for
the
franchise
really
since
its
inception.
Three
years
ago
now
the
Des
Moines
Menace
started
a
women's
program
and
the
women
now
play
in
the
wpsl
to
women's
premier
soccer
league,
meaning
that
both
the
women's
team
and
the
men's
team
are
the
highest
level
of
competition
anywhere
in
the
state
of
Iowa.
H
Have
high
expectations
for
the
upcoming
season?
The
schedule
will
kick
off
in
early
May,
with
exhibition
games
right
here
at
County
soccer
park
and
go
into
a
regular
season,
and
hopefully
postseason
schedule
at
valley
stadium
in
West,
Des
Moines.
On
the
men's
side,
we
return
a
strong
core
of
players
led
by
Dallas
center-grimes
native
Brandon
fricke,
who
was
an
all-league
selection
last
year
and
had
a
great
career
to
date
at
Butler
University
and
on
the
women's
side.
H
It's
still
a
very
new
program,
relatively
speaking,
but
Chelsea
Klein
from
right
here
in
Des
Moines,
as
well
as
Haley
Halverson
from
West
Des
Moines
will
lead
what
is
a
very
talented
group
onto
the
field
in
the
wpsl
season.
How
long
is
the
season
last?
We
have
a
three-month
season
may
june
and
july
on
the
players
who
are
of
college
age
and
still
have
college
eligibility
left
do
need
to
return
to
their
college
programs
in
early
to
mid
august
to
fulfill
their
scholarship
requirements.
H
H
The
regular
season,
as
both
both
our
men's
and
our
women's
teams,
do
play
at
valley
stadium
in
West
Des
Moines.
They
have
scooped
home
schedules
of
approximately
ten
games
each
depending
on
both
preseason
exhibitions
in
game.
Excuse
me
in
season
tournaments
and
then,
of
course,
whether
they
make
the
postseason
or
not.
So,
on
the
men's
side,
the
range
is
anywhere
from
eight
to
fourteen
home
games
and
on
the
women's
side,
just
a
little
bit
less
than
that
anywhere
from
six
to
eight
home
games
any
given
season
so.
A
H
So
the
opportunity
to
provide
select
soccer
programming
for
youth
11
through
18,
regardless
of
their
ability
to
pay
what
many
people
can
understand
or
have
the
youth
soccer
participation
fees
is
a
big
part
of
what
we
do
so
again.
11
to
18
year
olds
play
in
the
Des
Moines
menace
Academy
and
the
ages
under
that
fall
into
a
new
program
called.
A
H
We
have
great
crowds
at
valley,
stadium
in
excess
of
3,000
on
average
ticket
prices
range
from
five
dollars
for
groups
of
10
or
more
seven
dollars
for
youth
18
and
under
and
nine
dollars
for
adults.
We
also
have
season
ticket
plans
that
include
all
events
at
valley
stadium
during
the
Menace
season,
as
well
as
great
birthday,
party
and
group
options
as
well.
Fabulous.
A
Thanks
so
much
for
doing
what
you
guys
are
doing
for
soccer
it,
certainly
across
the
United
States
a
exploding
interest
almost
in
young
men,
young
women
getting
involved
in
it.
So
thanks
for
promoting
in
Iowa
and
best
of
luck,
this
season,
my
pleasure,
thank
you
man,
thanks
for
being
on
the
shelves.
Thank
you.
The
drive
down.
A
I
We
were
in
the
American
Hockey
League
and
we
we
had
to
relocate
from
Houston.
We
we
were
unfortunately
unable
to
get
a
renegotiated
at
least
out
of
the
Toyota
Center.
So
we
started
looking
at
markets
to
relocate
to
in
the
proximity
of
Des
Moines
to
st.
Paul,
where
our
parent
club,
the
Minnesota
Wild
work,
makes,
makes
a
lot
of
sense.
So
des
moines
also
had
HL
hockey
gear
before
it's
a
beautiful
building
at
the
Wells
Fargo
Arena.
I
I
Teams
in
the
American
Hockey
League,
we
stretch
all
across
North
America.
We
have
a
team
out
in
st.
John's
Newfoundland,
all
the
way
to
abbotsford
British
Columbia,
there's
a
pocket
in
the
Midwest
pocket
in
the
East
Coast
and
a
pocket
down
in
Texas.
So
we
really
kind
of
stretch
all
North
America.
What.
A
Kids
at
play
hockey
and
and
whether
they're
there
men
that
have
been
in
in
a
while
or
young
people
coming
up.
Where
do
they
generally
start
their
hockey
and
career
and
learn
how
to
play
hockey
I
mean
we
turn
about
Minnesotans
or
Canadians,
or
you
know.
What
are
these?
Were
these
young
people
go?
You.
I
Know
really,
is
it
the
youth
level,
and
you
know
that's
something
as
we've
come
into
this
market,
you
know,
there's
not
that
many
sheets
of
ice
in
Iowa
or
in
Des
Moines
area
as
well.
You've
got
a
few
local
ranks
and
you've
got
the
ice
down
at
Wells,
Fargo
Arena.
So
that's
really
where
it
starts
at
the
youth
level
and
and
that's
something
that
we
really
said
that
when
we
came
back
here
in
Des
Moines,
we
really
try
and
help
grow
the
sport
throughout
you
look
at
the
climate
in
Iowa.
I
A
We've
had
a
you
know,
kind
of
a
youth
hockey
team
here
that
buccaneers
through
the
years
and
they've,
had
very
successful
seasons
and
we've
had
a
lot
of
lot
of
young
people
go
on
to
play
professional
hockey,
and
maybe
they
were
there.
You
know
possibly
going
to
be
wild
players.
One
of
these
days
well.
I
Absolutely
we've
already
had
a
few
players
come
through
Chad
Rao,
you
know
was
a
former
bucks
player
who
played
for
our
team
this
year
until
he
was
recently
traded.
So
the
transition
from
from
that
USHL
level
up
to
the
American
Hockey
League,
then
up
to
the
NHL
exists,
already
there's
tons
of
there's
five
USHL
hockey
teams
in
Iowa.
So
when
we
first
moved
here,
there
was
kind
of
his
notion
that
that
Des,
Moines
or
Iowa
was
a
basketball
football
mark.
A
I
You
know
what
des
moines
a
it's
all
about
reaching
out
to
the
community
here
in
Des
Moines
and
it's
a
very
community-based
market.
That's
for
sure
it
seems,
like
everybody
knows
everybody
so
we've
we
felt
we
needed
to
really
kind
of
make
some
inroads.
So
we
launched
several
programs
this
year,
a
while
about
reading
program,
which
you
know
was
a
neat
program
at
eight
thousand
kids
participated
in
the
hall
and
in
essentially
they
as
they
read
a
book.
They
got
to
write
that
book
on
ice
rink
on
a
sheet
of
paper
that
we
gave
him.
I
They
look
like
an
ice
rink,
it
kind
of
going
down
the
ice
like
they
were
scoring
their
goal
or
scoring
their
reading
goal.
If
they
read
three
books
and
as
a
result
of
that
they
got
a
free
ticket
to
come
to
an
aisle
wild
game.
So
it's
a
great
way
to
kind
of
you
know,
get
them
reading
at
the
same
time,
kind
of
exposing
them
to
hockey.
At
the
same
time,
in
january-february
this
year
we
launched
our
floor
hockey
program
healthy
living
floor
hockey
program.
That
was
all
about
getting
kids
up
and
moving.
I
And
you
know
we
certainly
it's
it's
exposing
people
in
the
game
of
hockey
and
is
teaching
the
game
of
hockey.
So
we
have
21,000
kids
in
january-february
this
year
playing
floor
hockey
with
with
equipment
that
we
donated
to
the
schools
that
didn't
have
floor
hockey
previously
I
mean
we
also
donated
gonna.
I
I
Shoes
and
tries
to
try
to
score
the
goal
to
try
to
get
the
plastic
puck
in
the
net.
So
you
know
but
but
for
us
it.
You
know
again
it's
about
educating
people
on
the
game
and
it's
about
making
people
become
Iowa,
wild
fans
and
that's
why
we
wanted
to
provide
the
jerseys.
So
we
gave
all
the
schools
are
participated:
10
white
and
ten
green
I've
awhile
Jersey,
because
we
want
the
kids
to
put
on
that.
A
I
Play
38
home
games,
so
it's
all
it
there's
a
lot
of
there's
a
lot
of
home
games,
38
row
it
as
well.
I've
season
begins
in
October
and
it
ends
in
April.
So
it's
a
long
season.
It's
those
winter
months.
It's
certainly
a
long
winter
in
Iowa,
so
we're
we're
we're,
hopefully
providing
an
entertainment
option
for
folks
that
are
looking
something
to
do
when
it's
really
cold
outside.
I
A
I
I
All
30
teams
are
in
this
league
yeah.
We
every
single,
AHL
team,
has
an
NHL
affiliate.
We
happen
to
be
owned
by
the
Minnesota
Wild,
so
there
are
affiliate,
and
obviously
that
makes
a
lot
of
sense.
But
you
know
it
just
depends
on
your
position.
You
know
right
now
we're
battling
for
a
playoff
spot
and
you
know,
hopefully
we
can
make
the
playoffs
and
if
we
make
the
playoffs
this
year,
it'll
it'll
mirror
the
NHL
playoffs.
I
A
I
Iowa
wild
calm,
it's
probably
the
best
place
for
you
know
the
most
up-to-date
information.
We
are
all
the
focus:
two
tickets:
two
tickets:
community
mascot.
We
just
launched
our
mascot
recently
so
appearances
for
him,
but
that's
really
the
best
way,
we're
also
on
Facebook
and
we're
on
Twitter
through
I,
a
wild
in
and
get
our
phone
numbers.
515
564
8700
for
taking
information
as
well.
Okay,.