Des Moines has taken a significant step toward professional soccer – the City Council unanimously approved on December 8 a $7 million financing agreement for the construction of the Pro Iowa soccer stadium. The facility will be built on a remediated former factory site – a Superfund site – located just next to downtown.

A solution after years of effort

According to Jeff Lorenzen, president of the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation, which will own the stadium, the additional funding, together with private donations and so-called value engineering, has closed the budget gap that had delayed the project for years. The Pro Iowa stadium and the adjoining pedestrian plaza will be built on the former Dico factory site, which has been cleaned of chemical contamination. A soil monitoring system is already in place.

The stadium is planned to have a capacity of 8,000 spectators, with construction expected to begin in late 2026 or 2027. The first matches for the professional men’s and women’s teams could take place in late 2028 or 2029. While waiting for important decisions regarding sports infrastructure, fans often look for other sources of entertainment. In just a few months, the most important soccer tournament in the world will take place in the USA. Check World Cup 2026 tickets prices and experience the thrill of top-level football!

© INVISION Architecture/Gensler Architecture

How the project will be financed

This is the last piece of the puzzle in our funding that allows us to move the project forward, Lorenzen said. The City Council requires that the stadium and plaza also be available to other users, and that the stadium have at least 5,500 seats in its final configuration. The Krause Group, led by Kyle Krause, is expected to provide a men’s team in the USL Championship League and a women’s team in the Gainbridge Super League. The design of the stadium and plaza will be reviewed by the city’s Urban Design Review Board, with the City Council having the final approval.

The stadium’s construction was initially estimated at $60 million in 2019, but rising costs increased the budget to $95 million. Changes to the project plan and additional private donations, including contributions from the Krause family, have brought the total funds available for construction to $90.8 million, enough to proceed with the project. Of the $7 million city commitment, $2 million will come from the sale of a municipal parking garage at Locust and Ninth Streets, while an additional $1.5 million is earmarked for the construction of the event plaza. Provided all financial and regulatory requirements are met, the project must be completed by December 31, 2029.

A project important for the community

The City Council also approved expanding the Reinvestment District to include the Market District – approximately 40 acres south of East Village. The expansion will allow the project to compete for an additional $10 million from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which could be used, among other things, to provide parking solutions for the new stadium and surrounding developments. This facility will be a tremendous asset for the city and will benefit the local community for decades, said City Council member Josh Mandelbaum.

The Pro Iowa stadium project is a key element in the broader revitalization of industrial areas near the western entrance to downtown and could serve as a catalyst for further development in Des Moines.