Back again at Drake Stadium...this time for the Drake Relays. I love the Jumbotron and all the…read moretimers. We grabbed some great parking nearby and I love all the fun food vendors out front.

Cherished spot for so many Drake and community events…read more First time was for Tim Gunn from Project Runways talk and recently for a private party. Staff is outstanding and students are nearby to learn firsthand too. Seating is rather large for an indoor stadium.

We go here for their comic-con. it's huge, thus useful for such…read more Parking is reasonable. Keeping in mind that many, many people will attend such events, expect to walk a distance. Or roll, or be rolled. Etc. We've enjoyed the location and will return.

The event center is a convenient location and is used for a variety of events through the year…read more Today we attended the home and garden show. Events usually have paid parking options but it's definitely worth cruising around to see if you can find street parking. If you're adventurous, you can try to navigate the skywalk to get here.

Fun AAA ballpark WHERE I CAUGHT MY FIRST BALL EVER!!! Beyond that, we had a 250 person event and it…read morewent flawlessly. We had the entire right field bleachers to ourselves. Shade for those who wanted it, sit anywhere to watch the game. Food was in good supply pregame. Supposedly pulled with first pitch but they did what I would hope: put all the remaining food out so we can take from it. (But seriously guys, if you read this? Keep serving through the first inning or so. Please.) Also a second note: Audio didn't really carry to the outfield. No secondary video screen to supplement the one directly behind us. For that fifth star, please beef that up a bit!

2 weeks ago I was visiting Des Moines, IA for 4 days visiting a friend. When planning the trip,…read moreshe wanted me to look for things I wanted to do. I did some searching and found out Des Moines was home to Iowa Cubs, AAA affiliate, of Chicago Cubs. My friend somehow got a coupon for a buy 1 ticket get 1 ticket free. I think total was $20. It was on 3rd baseline on second tier level of seats. They don't accept cash at concession stands. You have fo get a card to load or you can use a credit card. I tried to load the card my friend had but it didn't work. So we got a new card and loaded that up. I went to one stand to get beer for myself. I also got an order of steak fries. It seemed like a small portion for the price but whatever. The stadium is definitely smaller than major league ball parks. Worcester Red Sox were playing the Iowa Cubs. 6 hits Final Score 0-1 Cubs Winning. The stadium was clean, signs easy to follow.

Took my daughter here this morning for an all-sports day camp. It's a nice, big indoor complex…read morewith plenty of space. There are multiple buildings on the property so I think depending on what you're here for, there's something for everyone. There's tons of parking and it seems well cared for.

I get to review my one visit! Concert in the summer of '24…read more I cant believe that this is my first time here since this was built in 2019. It is rare that we go to an outdoor concert but I was able to find one that the hubby was interested in. We went early as I feared there would be a huge line to get in. We went about an hour before the concert. Came from the north on MLK and turned right into the park. Parking was extra and they lined us up on the lawn. There were people who looked like they had been there for awhile and enjoying the weather doing a little tailgating. We got our vehicle situated and pulled out our chairs. We walked only a little bit to security. You need to remove your chair from the carry bag and not take any big bags inside. The venue is nice open space. Flat ground. The Amphitheater was not even used, they had another stage set up in front of it. An area marked off for standing admission so you can be close to the stage. We opted for the general admission which put you further back and could sit. You snag a spot on the lawn and claim it. Food trucks and venues all around for your grazing pleasure. Everyone at our concert was respectful. The weather was perfect. We enjoyed the people watching. Had a couple drinks and enjoyed it all. We were far enough back that even with people standing up close to the stage we could still see and enjoy. The getting out of the parking venue is a pain. Only 1 major exit on our side and hundreds of cars trying to get out. Thank goodness for the traffic help otherwise we would have been there forever. It did take about 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot, but once back on MLK it was normal traffic.

It's great to have a new venue for live music in Des Moines! I went here this summer (2019) during…read morethe first year it has been open. I admit I rarely go to outdoor concerts so take that with a grain of salt. The amphitheater is located in Water Works Park. We went for the Ben Folds/Violent Femmes concert. Traffic was backed up on Fleur which did not anticipate. It was a 10 minute or so delay. Parking cost $10 which really was outrageous considering I did not see any actual parking lot! We parked along a road, then walked to join a long line of people waiting to enter. I enjoyed listening to the band we came to see. But since the place is brand new I have a few ideas for what could have made it better- Parking of course The whole venue is flat, why did they not slope the general admission area slightly to improve the view?

The arena oozes, an Iowa long gone by ...Not the worst or best place, but favorite (old but…read morecharming): Buccaneer Arena in Des Moines is home to USHL Des Moines Buccaneers  Place is a barn in every sense of the word (good and bad). Built in the '60s, concourse and locker rooms are on the same level, so they have to curtain off parts of the hallways to let players on and off the ice. The seating is all wooden benches made for 3000, but they fit 3500, and the roof is plywood and iron. Everything else is concrete.  My buddy Simo  saw Herb Brooks's 1980 squad (that's right the miracle ice team) once play an exhibition against the Blues there, he said that there was a Rochester hockey connection between everyone at the time when hockey was a very small world indeed. The halls are clean....they have  upgraded the vendor areas, including local Iowa beers on tap. It still has the usual fare popcorn,  Iowa style pork tenderloin, various Pop and canned beers. . I love this rink. Love, love, love it. They keep it fairly clean, despite it's age. It belongs in a Slap Shot movie. It's like "letter Kenny's character Shoresy hockey  Arena " one of the last of the "great old barns" left, and it's where so many  young people  learned to play hockey and learned to love hockey. Of course, now they've got the fancy rec area and then the minor league team "the Wild" at the Wells Fargo arena... The fans that attend the Buc games are pretty funny and loyal.. They mock  the announcer all the time with chants ...they boo and chant against the referees . It's about the right size because it doesn't swallow. People up like the Wells fargo Arena.. There's been a delay in tearing this place down. I suppose it could happen any year now. They were gonna start construction of the new arena over at the merle hay mall, but that's been put on hold.  It made me smile to see lots of dads with kids and moms with kids having a fun, affordable experience. If you haven't been, you should go before it disappears. Like other lost things and all the memories of this place are gone. I have been when it's been pretty crowded, and it does get pretty rowdy.

"It's like being in a movie" is what my partner said the latest time we came to a game. The fans…read moreare dressed to represent the team and certainly seem like they are regular, season ticket holders with their enthusiastic cheers (and jeers when it comes to the referees). The arena isn't huge so there really isnt a bad seat. The game is played a lot faster and more physically than the majors. A really fun time and family friendly. Be sure to follow their Facebook or check the website for any specials (eg Friday is 2 for 1 arena tickets with a fareway receipt)

You need more Dedicated pickleball courts!…read more There is a law suit waiting to happen here, senior discrimination you have all these activities for younger and middle aged but you only have 2 pickleball courts which 90% are the seniors playing. They have a list of 20 people that can sign up for 2 courts, yet we have come week after week and even during the weekdays NO-ONE is on the 3 extra pickleball courts! But they refuse to let the pickleball players play on them ‍ they chain up the extra nets and the courts sit empty. From a financial side point this is just stupid, every time they turn people away! Sometimes it's myself other times it's other people. You obviously have the need and want in the community yet they'd rather those courts sit empty. It would help if the front desk lady Kerry was a little nicer too. She is extremely rude and has outright lied and refused to let us rent out those courts for pickleball. It would be nice to see someone a little more kind and helpful there but she seems to always have a sour taste in her mouth.

These facilities are great! Our family came here for a hockey tournament and were taken back by how…read morespacious and clean the facilities were. They have ample parking, inside and outside turf and two well maintained ice rinks. I would seek out another tournament in this area.

I came for Ankeny High School's graduation ceremony. This is such an impressive and a huge venue!!…read more There is tons of parking but it takes a bit of walking to when it gets busy. The coliseum itself is really well maintained and very clean. Staff were very friendly! There are a ton of steps to walk up to get in so be forewarned. The seats are also not comfortable but no stadium seat really is. I got fidgety an hour in and had to get up to stretch. Overall nice and large venue.

Great place to see a game. It's finally getting back to the level of craziness we saw in the…read moreOrr/Floyd/Eustachy era, thanks to the Mayor and some W's. They also seem to be trying to book a few more music shows in here, which is also a good thing. It's a much better music venue than Wells Fargo Arena...I've seen a ton of shows here in my day, it used to be the go-to stop for Central Iowa. Let's hope they bring it back to what it once was and could easily become again. But above all, it's a basketball arena, and a fantastic one at that. Let's keep it loud and crazy. I've seen KISS in this venue, but I've heard it louder for basketball games.

Went to the Like Combs concert here. Luke was great and everything else sucked. Bathroom lines were…read morean hour plus. Drinks were sold out before the third opener. It was an outdoor concert in April and it rained... To top things off the parking lot was set up so bad we sat an HOUR before we got out of there. I'd never go to a concert here again.

What a fun time at the stadium! I came to watch the ISU homecoming game. Got to enjoy tailgating…read moreprior to game. Great to see so many people out and about enjoying themselves. You have to experience this stadium once in your life!! Unless you donate money to the school every year -- parking can be a little difficult, but there are designated general parking for a fee. There is ample bathrooms and food choices during game day. There is also a lactation room located onsite for nursing moms.