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When completed in 2005, the Iowa Events Center will consist of the existing Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the new Hy-Vee Hall, and the new Wells Fargo Arena. The new buildings were designed by HOK Sport , who were also the architects of the renovated Principal Park in Des Moines, the United Center in Chicago, and many other arenas and stadiums in the United States. The project is expected to cost $217 million, which makes this the largest public project in Iowa history. Funding for the project comes from Polk County and its cities, private donations, and the Vision Iowa Fund that Gov. Tom Vilsack signed into law in 2000. [1]
Construction began in early 2002 after Polk County reached a project-labor agreement with local labor unions that guaranteed favorable wages and working conditions in exchange for no work stoppages. Polk County was soon sued by right to work supporters who claimed that the use of a project-labor agreement on a public project violated Iowa's right to work laws. The lawsuit halted construction for several months, but on November 15November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. Events 600-1799 655 Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. 1777 American Revolutionary War: After 16 months of, 2002, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in Polk County's favor.
On April 22April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). There are 253 days remaining. Events 1500 Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. 1509 Henry VIII ascends to the throne of, 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co, Polk County agreed to transfer management of the Iowa Events Center to Global Spectrum of PhiladelphiaAlternate meanings: Philadelphia (disambiguation Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the United States and the largest city in Pennsylvania, occupying all of Philadelphia County . As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,517,550, but a July 1, 20. Global Spectrum soon announced that the new Iowa StarsIowa Stars are a semi- professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. It will be based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Founded 2004 Arena Wells Fargo Arena NHL affiliate Dallas Stars (starting in the 2005-06 season) Uniform colours Green and gold L hockey team would be the center's primary tenant.
Named to honor the World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough veterans of Polk County, Veterans Memorial Auditorium opened on February 1February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 333 days remaining, (334 in leap years). Events 1662 The Chinese pirate Koxinga seizes the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege. 1788 Isaac Briggs and William Longstreet pate, 1955. It has 7,227 permanent seats, with the capacity to add an additional 4,000 seats for concerts and an additional 7,500 bleacher seats for basketball games. Vets also features 44,972 square feet of exhibition space at its main arena and an additional 50,806 square feet at its exhibition hall. [2]
Vets Auditorium has served as the primary venue of sporting events and concerts in the Des Moines area for many years. Performers such as Elvis Presley, Lawrence Welk, Neil Diamond, and AC/DC have played here; this was also the site of the infamous 1982 concert where Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a live bat. Vets Auditorium was also home to the Iowa Barnstormers arena football team from 1995 to 2000 and is the longtime home of the Iowa state high school basketball and wrestling tournaments. In recent years, however, Vets began to show its age as newer and larger arenas were opening in other cities. The Barnstormers moved out because of the inadequacy of "The Barn" (as Vets was known during their games) and concert promoters began to bypass Des Moines for other cities.
Vets Auditorium will be modernized as part of the Iowa Events Center work. It will still be used for smaller arena events and exhibitions after the new buildings open. The Des Moines skywalk system will connect Vets with Wells Fargo Arena and Hy-Vee Hall.