Professional soccer could be coming to Des Moines — but a $65 million vision still has several major hurdles to clear before a single shovel breaks ground. The proposal has drawn attention from city leaders, a major league soccer organization, and one of the sport’s most recognizable clubs, making it one of the most ambitious sports development efforts Iowa has seen in years.
Earlier this week, MLS Next Pro, Sporting Kansas City, and Hometown Soccer announced a joint plan to build a multi-use soccer stadium in the heart of Des Moines. The proposed venue would sit on the site of two large parking lots near 9th and Crocker streets in the city’s downtown corridor. If built, the stadium would seat between 5,500 and 6,500 fans and serve as the home for a professional MLS Next Pro team.
MLS Next Pro President Ali Curtis described the project as a natural fit for both the league and the city.
“This would be a really, really great marriage, to be able to move the MLS Next Pro team, Sporting Kansas City, to Des Moines and make this team really a Des Moines team.”
Sporting Kansas City President Jake Reid echoed that enthusiasm, pointing to the club’s longstanding presence in the Iowa market as a foundation for growth.
“I think it’s a great market, great fans already. We’ve been there from a club standpoint for over a decade. So, you know, again, I think for us, this is an amazing opportunity to just continue a lot of the momentum that Des Moines already has.”
Key Obstacles Remain
Despite the optimism from soccer officials, the path forward is far from settled. The proposed stadium site is currently owned by Principal Financial Group, and a corporate spokesperson confirmed that while the company has been approached, no deal is in place. The company released a statement clarifying its position:
“Hometown Soccer Holdings has inquired about property currently listed for sale; no agreement or commitment has been made.”
The city of Des Moines has also yet to formally weigh in on the project. When KCCI reached out for comment, city officials pointed to a statement issued Tuesday by Mayor Connie Boesen, which read in part:
“The city is open to new possibilities, but it is our duty as a city to represent the best interests of our residents, taxpayers, and all of Central Iowa.”
This is not Des Moines’ first brush with a major stadium proposal. The city spent seven years negotiating with a separate organization to develop a stadium at the former DICO site, a process that ultimately ended without an agreement. That history underscores how complex — and how slow — these types of projects can be.
Next Steps for the Project
For now, the organizations say the immediate priority is building relationships with local government. Curtis outlined what comes next for the proposal.
“We’ve got to build upon some of those conversations with different civic leaders to advance the ball. That’s what we’re focused on.”
The stadium, if approved and constructed, would represent a significant investment in Des Moines’ sports and entertainment landscape — one that backers say could elevate the city’s profile and deepen ties between the community and professional soccer. But with no land deal signed and no formal city commitment in place, the project remains in its earliest stages.