EMC Insurance Cos., which has deep roots in Des Moines, is set to become the naming sponsor for the Iowa Events Center’s exhibition hall and meeting spaces, officials with Polk County, Oak View Group and the insurance company announced today.

The 10-year naming rights deal is scheduled to be voted on by the Polk County Supervisors at its meeting on Tuesday. If approved, the hall and meeting spaces will be renamed EMC Expo Center. The name change would be effective Jan. 1.

“I think this shows our commitment to the downtown area and to Des Moines,” Scott Jean, EMC president and CEO, said after the announcement. “It’s a chance to really highlight our brand and get our message out for people to see and hear. We’re excited about that and we’re excited about the fact that we insure a lot of the different businesses that use this event space.”

The Iowa Events Center is owned by Polk County and managed by Oak View Group.

Currently, the event and meeting space is known as Hy-Vee Hall. The West Des Moines grocery store chain acquired the naming rights in a 20-year deal of just over $8 million. Hy-Vee officials opted not to renew the sponsorship when it expires on Dec. 31.

“We wanted to find a replacement that shared our core values of making lives better for the people of Polk County,” said Angela Connolly, the Polk County Supervisors chairperson. “We found that in our new partner, one that was founded in Des Moines in 1911 and has called Des Moines home ever since.”

The exhibition hall and meeting space opened in 2004 as part of the Iowa Events Center at 730 Third St. The first level of the event venue had previously included the former Hall of Pride that showcased Iowans who succeeded in sports, arts, science and medicine. The museum was shuttered in 2022.

The space was remodeled this year and includes 10,560 square feet that can be divided into three sections. The first level also includes 14,400 square feet of meeting space and 7,300 square feet of pre-function space. The second level includes 150,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space and 16,400 square feet of pre-function space.

The hall is connected to both the Community Choice Convention Center and Wells Fargo Arena, which on July 1 will be known as the Casey’s Center.

The event and meeting space attracts trade shows, banquets, concerts, athletic events and conventions. Last year, EMC Insurance hosted an event at the hall, something Jean said the company will continue doing.

“We had over 1,700 people at our event last year,” Jean said. “It was awesome to get everyone together in a space like this. We will be using the space for various other things in the future.”

EMC Insurance, whose headquarters is at 717 Mulberry St. in downtown, has over 2,200 employees, over half of whom work in Iowa. The commercial insurance provider is a mutual property and casualty company with a nationwide presence. It is one of the country’s top 60 property and casualty insurance organizations based on net written premiums, according to a news release.

In April, EMC Insurance unveiled its new tagline of “keeping insurance human,” Jean said. “The tagline means … that insurance serves a human purpose to improve the life of those who depend upon us. That means doing the right thing for [policyholders, agents, employees] and the communities that we work, live, play and do business in.”

Last year, the EMC Foundation gave grants totaling over $1.6 million, supporting over 200 organizations, many of which are in the Des Moines area, Jean said. The company’s investment in Des Moines includes partnering with the city of Des Moines to develop EMC Park at Seventh and Walnut streets.

“We believe in the importance of investing in your community,” Jean said. Acquiring the naming rights of “is another way of doing that.”

Casey’s Center

In October, Polk County and the Oak View Group announced that Ankeny-based Casey’s General Stores acquired the naming rights for the 17,000-seat arena that opened in July 2005. Wells Fargo decided to let its 20-year sponsorship deal expire. Casey’s acquired the naming rights for $18.3 million, payable over 10 years. The arena will be known as Casey’s Center beginning July 1.

Community Choice Credit Union renewed its sponsorship agreement for the convention center space over a year ago. The 10-year deal runs through Dec. 31, 2031.