Buccaneer Arena


Buccaneer Arena is a 3,461-seat, with standing room for an additional 700, multi-purpose arena in Urbandale, Iowa that is currently home to the Des Moines Buccaneers ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League. Before the Bucs began playing here in 1980, the International Hockey League's Des Moines Oak Leafs and Des Moines Capitols franchise played here.

Building history

The arena opened on November 12, 1961 as the Des Moines Ice Arena. It was later renamed the Metro Ice Sports Arena before becoming Buccaneer Arena in mid-2004. On September 22, 2005, Buccaneer Arena was renamed 95-KGGO Arena after Citadel Broadcasting, owners of radio station KGGO, purchased the naming rights to the arena. It is nicknamed the "Madhouse on Hickman" for its location on Hickman Road. In 2008, the arena changed its name back to Buccaneer Arena.

Tenants

The arena serves as home ice for the Des Moines Buccaneers' ten championship seasons in the 1990s: Anderson Cup regular season champs in 1994, '95, '98, '99; Clark Cup playoff champs in 1992, '95, '99, '06; and Gold Cup Junior-A champs in '92, '95, '98. In 2007, the arena hosted the College Hockey America championship tournament. The arena has also hosted mixed martial arts.