A sea of green greets visitors in the indoor field of West Des Moines’ nearly complete RecPlex.

The field, made of synthetic turf, measures 355 feet by 245 feet, the size of full-sized soccer field. It can be used for football, rugby, baseball, softball or any other activity that uses fields. It also can be covered with portable flooring for basketball, volleyball, wrestling or other activities.

Most of the areas inside the nearly 300,000-square-foot facility, formally known as the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex, can be used multiple ways.

“We wanted to have as much flexibility as possible with this facility,” said Shayne Ratcliff, general manager of the RecPlex. In April, a group using the facility for a volleyball tournament will bring 22 volleyball courts that will be set up on the field and in the 1,500-seat main arena, he said. An AAU wrestling group plans to set up 40 mats on the indoor field for a tournament.

“We know the sports is going to come,” Ratcliff said. “We also want to bring the nontraditional activities. … We want to bring people to [West Des Moines] with this facility. We’re well on our way of getting there with the events that we have coming.”

Planning for the recreational facility, located at 6500 Grand Ave., has been in the works for several years. The city of West Des Moines purchased nearly 61 acres for the sports center in December 2018, paying W&G McKinney Farms LC $2.5 million for the ground. Construction of the facility began a year later.

The RecPlex’s outdoor fields began being used last March; its two ice arenas were recently completed and are in use. In addition, the esports center and community rooms are operational and available to rent. The rest of the facility is expected to be completed and ready for public use by mid-October, Ratcliff said.

“We have a waiting list on the hardwood courts,” he said. “We have a waiting list on the turf, and the ice has already sold out. We’ve been very, very fortunate that it is all coming together.”

RecPlex facts

The following are factoids about the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex:


ADDRESS: 6500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines

OWNER: City of West Des Moines

DEVELOPMENT COSTS: $59.8 million, including $16.5 million in city bonds backed by future local option sales tax revenue, $16.4 million in city bonds backed by future hotel-motel tax revenue, $12.4 million in corporate and individual donations and pledges, and mix of other grants, loans and tax revenue.

NUMBER OF ACRES: 66, including three full-sized outdoor artificial turf fields with lights and wireless internet access.

PARKING: Space for 1,000 vehicles

INDOOR SPACE: Nearly 300,000 square feet; can hold up to 8,000 people.

MAIN RINK/ARENA: Includes one sheet of ice that will be used for ice sports activities during the winter. The 20,000-square-foot area can be converted to “dry floor” events including conventions, concerts and expos. The arena has 1,500 seats.

RINK #2: The rink, which seats 300 people, will feature year-round ice rental opportunities. The bleachers are heated.

FIELDHOUSE: 150,000 square feet of recreational space including four basketball courts, three pickleball courts, four batting cages and full-sized artificial turf field (pictured below), which can accommodate soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, softball and other activities. The basketball courts, which can also be used for volleyball, are made with maple hardwood.

OTHER AREAS: Multipurpose rooms can host up to 350 people or can be divided into small rooms.

ESPORTS CENTER: 3,500 square feet of gaming space that includes 30 high-end, water-cooled PCs and six consoles. Area can also be used as a computer lab for classes.

CLINIC: A physical therapy center is located in 5,000 square feet that Des Moines University is leasing from the city. The center will offer daily services as well as athletic training for tournaments and events held at the RecPlex.

WEBSITE: therecplex.com