About Us
History of the Iowa Events Center
The Iowa Events Center complex is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication by the Polk County Board of Supervisors to enter into the convention and entertainment business. The following outlines the remarkable history of the Iowa Events Center.
June 1996
Polk County took over the operation of Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the Convention Complex from the City of Des Moines. At that point, the decision was made by the Board of Supervisors that Polk County would be in the convention business.
2002
Polk County began building what is now known as Wells Fargo Arena and Hy-Vee Hall. Included in the Iowa Events Center complex are Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the Convention Complex.
Fall 2004
Global Spectrum, the fastest-growing company in public assembly facility management, is hired by Polk County to operate the Iowa Events Center.
Fall 2004
Hy-Vee Hall opens.
July 2005
Wells Fargo Arena officially opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 12, 2005. Two days later Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam is the first ticketed event in Des Moines’ newest entertainment facility.
October 2010
Veterans Memorial Auditorium is closed for a 14-month construction project transforming the historical auditorium into a state-of-the-art convention facility that adds a 28,800 ballroom to the Iowa Events Center in addition to 25 new meeting rooms and a tribute to all Iowa's Veterans in Veterans Memorial Hall.
January 2012
The new convention center space opens at the Iowa Events Center and is named the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center at Veterans Memorial.
