MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex

West Des Moines, IA · Public skating times & prices

Two ice arenas in a city-owned complex that opened in fall 2021 and now hosts the Des Moines Buccaneers

Public skating at MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex: the next 7 days

Sunday, October 11

  • · Public Skate · $8

Monday, October 12

  • · Public Skate · $8

Wednesday, October 14

  • · Public Skate · $8

Friday, October 16

  • · Public Skate · $8

Saturday, October 17

  • · Public Skate · $8

Admission and skate rental

Admission
$8 · Official source
Skate rental
$5 · Official source
Address
6500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone
(515) 440-4820
Website
therecplex.com
Front of The MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex on a clear day, gray metal-panel building with a large red "RECPLEX" wordmark, American, Iowa and City of West Des Moines flags on poles, the connected HyVee Fieldhouse visible to the right, curved entry walkway and fresh landscaping. — MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex
Front of The MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex on a clear day, gray metal-panel building with a large red "RECPLEX" wordmark, American, Iowa and City of West Des Moines flags on poles, the connected HyVee Fieldhouse visible to the right, curved entry walkway and fresh landscaping. Photo: Google Maps listing · Source
Abel Ice Arena at RecPlex: full ice sheet from an upper corner, empty stadium-style seating on both long sides, red RP logo at center ice, "Abel Ice Arena / Founding Partner" signage above the seating. — MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex
Abel Ice Arena at RecPlex: full ice sheet from an upper corner, empty stadium-style seating on both long sides, red RP logo at center ice, "Abel Ice Arena / Founding Partner" signage above the seating. Photo: MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex · Source

City-owned two-sheet complex, opened fall 2021

The MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex opened in fall 2021 as a city-owned athletic complex in West Des Moines. Two residents first suggested it as a place to serve the area's growing youth hockey scene, and in 2017 a group of parents and community members brought the city a proposal to build it. A capital campaign followed in 2018, and ground was broken in spring 2019.

Ice takes up two of the surfaces in a complex that also holds indoor soccer fields and basketball courts. The Abel Ice Arena, Rink 1, is the larger of the two: it carries ice sports and events through the winter and converts to convention space in summer. The Patty and Jim Cownie Family Ice Arena, Rink 2, keeps ice in year-round for ice sports, figure skating and public skating, with radiant heaters over the bleachers and a drink rail. The house Learn To Skate program follows the Learn To Skate USA curriculum.

The complex counted an estimated 650,000 visitors in its first full year and has since hosted the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic Games. As of September 2026 the Des Moines Buccaneers play their home games here, moved over after a mechanical issue with the ice surface at Buccaneer Arena. Plans published by the RecPlex would add a third sheet of ice.

Before you head out.

Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.

Admission

Public skating admission only is $8 per skater.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Rental skates are $5.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Check-in opens 30 minutes before the public skating start time; the rink encourages arriving early to make sure you get admission.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

Carrying children while you skate is not allowed.

Source checked · · Official source

Parking & arrival

Parking is free.

Source checked · · Official source

Accessibility

Registered service animals are allowed if kept on a leash and following the RecPlex guidelines.

Source checked · · Official source

A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.