Iowa West Sports Plex Now Open

(Council Bluffs, IA) – The latest addition to the Mid-America Center Entertainment District, an $8.5 million indoor turf facility for southwest Iowa athletes of all ages, is officially open for business this week. Located off of 23rd Avenue and adjacent to the Iowa West Field House, the Iowa West Sports Plex adds to the sports village concept developing in Council Bluffs. An Iowa West Foundation initiative, the Iowa West Sports Plex also rounds out a handful of recreational amenities pursued by the Foundation that were derived from community input, including more walking/biking trails, a new YMCA, a field House for volleyball and basketball, and indoor Pickleball courts.

“The multitude of recreational assets established just in the last five years will allow more young athletes in Southwest Iowa to play the sports they love all year round and stay within their community while doing so,” said Pete Tulipana, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “The completion of the Iowa West Sports Plex continues the synergy happening in the MAC District, an area with tremendous potential in Council Bluffs.”

The 75,000 foot Iowa West Sports Plex features an artificial turf the size of one, regulation 11 x 11 youth soccer field with the ability to be separated into multiple smaller fields. The fields can be used for youth baseball, softball, flag football, lacrosse, and other sports in addition to soccer as well as for adult leagues in multiple sports. The upstairs features additional seating, and a comfortable viewing area for parents and families.

The facility will be operated and managed by the Council Bluffs Soccer Club, led by Executive Director Arian Haddix.  A Council Bluffs native, Haddix brings with her 11-plus years of nonprofit management experience, as well as being a former collegiate soccer player for Bellevue University. She has been involved with Council Bluffs soccer community as a youth player, volunteer coach, and most recently as the secretary of the Board of Directors of the CBSC.

“The Iowa West Foundation embraced the need for the sports plex and created an initiative to make it happen.  The leadership of the foundation through their financial commitment along with partnering to drive local and regional community support allowed the facility to be built debt-free,” Haddix said. “This ensures that local teams and athletes don’t have to pay premium prices to practice or play here in Council Bluffs. It truly is a game-changer.”

The Council Bluffs Soccer Club is now accepting registrations for its fall, outdoor recreation and academy leagues now through July 17th.

Iowa West Sports Plex Ribbon Cutting

Date: Thursday, Aug. 6th

Time: 4:30 p.m.

*Due to COVID-19, masks are required for the event and social distancing guidelines will be enforced.

About the Iowa West Foundation

The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has distributed more than $500 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska since the inception of its grant program. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s. IWRA is the license sponsor for Ameristar and Harrah’s and the license holder for Horseshoe-Bluffs Run. The Foundation targets resources into programs and projects that focus on economic development, education, placemaking and healthy families.

About the Council Bluffs Soccer Club

The Council Bluffs Soccer Club is a community-based, volunteer organization supporting recreational and competitive soccer playing under United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), Iowa Soccer Association (ISA), the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYS). The Council Bluffs Soccer Club organization is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to be a first-class soccer club to help all youth maximize their soccer experience with a safe atmosphere for practice and play, quality, professional training, and well-organized game competition that is developmentally appropriate for all levels of play.