Scoop: The Buccaneers back out of Merle Hay Mall arena plan
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Rendering: ICON Architectural Group, courtesy of Polk County Board of Supervisors
The Des Moines Buccaneers have ended discussions with Merle Hay Mall to resurrect a $60 million arena project, Urbandale spokesperson Derek Zarn tells Axios.
Why it matters: The development was intended to transform the former Younkers department store into a multi-purpose destination and boost the local economy.
- Now the future of the site is unclear.
Flashback: Younkers, one of the mall's longtime anchor tenants, closed in 2018.
- In 2020 the Bucs and mall owners announced a plan to retrofit the building into a hockey arena to replace the team's aging facility.
- They held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the 3,500-seat venue in May 2022.
Plus: Local and state governments approved tens of millions of dollars in incentives for the Merle Hay redevelopment.
Yes, but: Lease agreements between the team and the mall were not finalized and construction never started.
- Polk County, DSM and Urbandale government managers last year gave project officials until Dec. 31 to finalize agreements, and extended that deadline until June.
State of play: The Bucs notified Urbandale city officials last week that an agreement could not be reached, Zarn said.
The intrigue: Merle Hay Mall CEO Liz Holland told the Register in late May that the principal terms of the lease were agreed to and that the deal was in closing stages.
- Holland did not respond to Axios' requests for comment Monday.
- Bucs president Nate Teut declined to comment.
Inside the room: The team had considered renovating its current arena rather than moving ahead with the Merle Hay project, the Register reported last year.
What's next: Local governments are assessing the impact the Buc's decision may have on a $26.5 million state grant provisionally awarded in 2021 for the Merle Hay campus.
- They'll explore other opportunities to bring "new investment, growth and vitality" to the mall, Zarn said.