95KGGO Arena
Encyclopedia
Buccaneer Arena is a 3,408-seat 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.
The arena was built in 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 95KGGO Arena after Citadel Broadcasting
, owners of radio station
KGGO
, purchased the naming rights
to the arena. It is often nicknamed the "Madhouse on Hickman" for its location on Hickman Road. In 2008, the arena changed its name back to Buccaneer Arena.
The arena serves as the home ice for the Des Moines Buccaneers' 10 championships 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 also hosts Midwest Cage Championship MMA fights, concerts and benefits.
During the summer of 2008, many renovations were done inside the arena, with plans to update and renovate more of the arena after the Buccaneers 2008 - 2009 season. Improvements will include better access, a larger lounge, stadium seating, new glass, new boards, etc.
Urbandale, Iowa
Urbandale is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 29,072; a special census taken by the city in 2005 counted 35,904 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 38,369 residents lived there in 2008...
that is currently home to the Des Moines Buccaneers
Des Moines Buccaneers
The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team of the United States Hockey League . The team played in the West Division starting in the 2009 - 2010 season....
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. Before the Bucs began playing here in 1980, the International Hockey League's Des Moines Oak Leafs
Des Moines Oak Leafs
The Des Moines Oak Leafs were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Des Moines, Iowa, playing at Des Moines Ice Arena. The Oak Leafs were members of the United States Hockey League from 1961 to 1963, and the International Hockey League from 1963 to 1972...
and Des Moines Capitols
Des Moines Capitols
The Des Moines Capitols, were a minor league professional ice hockey team in Des Moines, Iowa, playing at the Des Moines Ice Arena. They were members of the International Hockey League from 1972 to 1975, and previously known as the Des Moines Oak Leafs. In 1973, Danny Gloor won the Gary F. Longman...
franchise played here.
The arena was built in 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 95KGGO Arena after Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
, owners of radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
KGGO
KGGO
KGGO is a classic rock radio station based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is located at 94.9 on the FM band. The station's studios are in Urbandale, Iowa, with Cumulus Media's other Des Moines stations: KJJY, KHKI, KWQW, and KBGG...
, purchased the naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
to the arena. It is often nicknamed the "Madhouse on Hickman" for its location on Hickman Road. In 2008, the arena changed its name back to Buccaneer Arena.
The arena serves as the home ice for the Des Moines Buccaneers' 10 championships 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
College Hockey America
College Hockey America is a women's college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference is currently made up of four women's teams in New York and Pennsylvania....
championship tournament. The arena also hosts Midwest Cage Championship MMA fights, concerts and benefits.
During the summer of 2008, many renovations were done inside the arena, with plans to update and renovate more of the arena after the Buccaneers 2008 - 2009 season. Improvements will include better access, a larger lounge, stadium seating, new glass, new boards, etc.