DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Buccaneers will soon call Merle Hay Mall home.
The hockey team announced a new 3,500 seat multi-purpose arena will be built in the former Younkers store on the west side of the shopping center.
This comes after the Buccaneers' home arena saw severe damage during the August derecho storm.
"What I like about it is that we're not doing it where we could otherwise be growing corn and soybeans," said Liz holland, CEO of Abbell Associates. "We're doing it in a site that already has sewers. It already has electricity. It already has streets and roads and parking lots."
With the new development comes the opportunity to host regional and national tournaments including trade shows and concerts. The new arena will also include three additional ice rinks to host games, practices and tournaments.
There will also be a 150-room hotel.
No word at this time when the new project will start or be completed.
"I think the atmosphere will be missed but I think that will carry over with it," said Tom Gates, sales manager of Slapshot Hockey Shop. "The fans are the fans and that doesn't change and I think it's just gonna bring excitement around the organization and excitement for us.
"We're all fans as well."
