sport

Des Moines Clubs Thrive by Building Community Ties

Local teams from the Menace to the Barnstormers draw residents together through ongoing seasons and youth events at venues across the metro.

By Des Moines Sport Desk · Published July 15, 2026

How we reported this

This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Des Moines is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

The Daily Des Moines

The Des Moines Menace, founded in 1994, holds a 3-1-6 record and fifth place in the Great Plains division as of March 2025 while preparing for its next match against Springfield FC at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines.

Teams across Des Moines maintain active schedules that connect residents through regular matches and tournaments. The Menace season runs from May to July, overlapping with the Barnstormers schedule that stretches from March through July and ended recently. This timing places multiple clubs in the public eye during summer months when families seek local activities.

Venues anchor daily routines

The Iowa Barnstormers play indoor football at facilities in Des Moines, while the Des Moines Buccaneers use the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex in West Des Moines for their United States Hockey League games. The Iowa Cubs, established in 1969 and affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, finished the 2024 season at 68-82 and second-to-last in the International League West. These fixed locations give neighborhoods consistent gathering points without requiring travel outside the metro area.

Central Iowa youth sports programs add another layer by hosting the 2026 Iowa State Tournament II for 8U-14U divisions in Des Moines on July 18-20. The event draws players and families directly into the same facilities used by professional squads, creating shared spaces that link amateur and pro levels.

Record of steady participation

Des Moines ranks as the No. 1 minor league sports market in the country, a status supported by the presence of the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wild and other clubs. The Menace record of 3-1-6 through March 2025 and the Barnstormers start to the 2024 season with two losses illustrate ongoing competition that keeps supporters engaged year after year.

Residents can follow the Menace remaining games at Valley Stadium or attend the upcoming youth tournament to see how these clubs maintain connections across age groups and seasons.

References Sourced but Not Limited to:

Your newsroom. Shaped by you.

The Daily Des Moines is in beta. AI may assist with research, summarising and drafting. Automated checks assess sourcing, accuracy and editorial risk before publication, and sensitive material is held for human review. Spotted something off, or want us covering a topic? Tell us. Your feedback is entirely optional and helps shape what we publish next.