Owners of the Des Moines Buccaneers are interested in pursuing making the MidAmerican Energy Co. RecPlex the hockey organization’s permanent home, the group’s managing partner told the Business Record.

“If [West Des Moines] can provide a facility that meets the [United State Hockey League’s] requirements, then we would have a great interest in making a long-term commitment,” said Michael Devlin, lead owner and managing partner of the Buccaneers.

West Des Moines city officials are planning to build an addition to the RecPlex, with construction beginning as soon as the summer of 2025.

The proposed expansion would add about 100,000 square feet to the RecPlex at 6500 Grand Ave. The expansion, estimated to cost $29.2 million, would include between 1,000 and 3,000 spectator seats. It would cater to ice-related events part of the year and “dry floor” events during the remainder of the year.

Ryan Penning, West Des Moines’ parks and recreation director, has said an exact size of an expansion hasn’t been determined. A larger arena would be pursued if a funding and usage partnership with the Buccaneers is reached and the team decides to permanently play its home matches at the RecPlex.

A mechanical issue at the Buccaneers’ aged facility in Urbandale caused the team to relocate its matches this season to the RecPlex.

Devlin said that he’s received positive feedback from the hockey organization, team and fans about playing matches at the RecPlex.

“We’ve had great feedback from the majority of fans,” Devlin said. “The scouts that come in from the NHL and from the colleges have all given us positive feedback.

“If there is an expansion, I would hope it would work out for us,” Devlin said. “We don’t want to be anywhere by ourselves. …This has never been just about the Bucs. It’s always been about [the Bucs] being part of the hockey community in Des Moines and to have everyone together makes a lot of sense.”

Other organizations in the hockey community include youth and high school programs and adult leagues, Devlin said.

Devlin said that it’s likely the Bucs will play next season’s home matches at the RecPlex.

“We haven’t finalized anything, but given the state of what we need to do [at the Bucs’ facility in Urbandale], I would say everyone would prefer to stay in West Des Moines,” Devlin said.

The RecPlex was originally designed so it could be expanded to the east. The expansion would occur in an area now used for parking. Penning has emphasized that several steps must be completed before the city moves forward with the expansion project, including gaining approval from the City Council.