Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center facts for kids
| "Vets", "The Barn" | |
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| Former names | Veterans Memorial Auditorium (1955–2012) |
|---|---|
| Location | 833 5th Avenue Des Moines, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41°35′33″N 93°37′22″W / 41.59250°N 93.62278°W |
| Owner | Polk County, Iowa |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Construction | |
| Opened | February 1, 1955 |
| Renovated | 2010–2012 |
| Demolished | 2010-2012 (arena only) |
| Tenants | |
| Drake Bulldogs (NCAA) (1957–1992) Iowa Cornets (WBL) (1978–1979) Iowa Barnstormers (AFL/AF2) (1995–2001) Des Moines Dragons (IBA) (1997–2001) |
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The Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center is a large building in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It used to be called Veterans Memorial Auditorium. This building is an important part of the Iowa Events Center.
It was built to honor the brave World War II veterans from Polk County. The center first opened its doors on February 1, 1955.
A Place for Big Events
This convention center has hosted many exciting events over the years. From famous musicians to thrilling sports, it has seen a lot of history.
Music Stars on Stage
Many legendary performers have played at this venue.
Elvis Presley's Visits
The famous singer Elvis Presley was one of the first big stars to perform here. He played his first show on May 22, 1956. Elvis returned to the auditorium two more times. He performed on June 20, 1974, and again on June 23, 1977. His last show here was one of his final concerts ever.
Home for Sports Teams
The center has been a home court for several sports teams.
Drake Bulldogs Basketball
From 1957 to 1992, the Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team played their games here. Their first game in the new building was on January 11, 1957. They played against the Iowa State Cyclones. When the Bulldogs played here, the arena had 11,411 seats. It could add thousands more seats for concerts or other basketball games.
Other Sports and Events
People often called the building "Vets" or "The Barn." It was a popular spot for many years. It hosted minor league basketball and arena football games. Iowa high school basketball and wrestling tournaments were also held here. Many students celebrated their high school graduations in this building.
Exciting Wrestling Matches
The venue also hosted big professional wrestling events.
WWE Raw and Famous Wrestlers
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) broadcast its WWE Raw program from the center. A very famous match happened here in 1989. It was a steel cage match between Hulk Hogan and Big Boss Man. This exciting event was shown on Saturday Night's Main Event XXI.
Modern Updates and New Purpose
For many years, the Veterans Memorial Auditorium was the main place for sports and concerts in Des Moines.
Becoming a Convention Center
When the Casey's Center opened, the auditorium's role changed. It became a supporting arena. In the fall of 2010, the building closed for a big renovation. It was transformed into a modern convention facility.
What Changed During Renovation
The renovation added a large 28,800-square-foot ballroom. It also created 25 new meeting rooms for the Iowa Events Center. During this time, the naming rights were sold to Community Choice Credit Union. This is why it has its current name. However, the building is still known as the Veterans Memorial building.
Honoring Veterans Again
As part of the renovation, a special area called Veterans Memorial Hall was added. This hall proudly displays the sacrifices of Iowa veterans. It honors their service since Iowa became a state.
