Matt Carver | Legal Services Director, School Administrators of Iowa

The Idea: Develop an environmentally friendly soccer-specific stadium, such as the one found in Ingolstadt, Germany. Ingolstadt’s stadium incorporates both solar panels on the roof covering the stadium’s seats as well as collection of rainwater to utilize for field irrigation. Construction of a similar stadium in Des Moines would provide one more example that Iowa is not just flyover country, but the home of forward-thinking community leaders and sports fans. The stadium would provide an electric setting for the growing number of soccer fans and players in the Des Moines area. With the welcoming of many different ethnic groups to Polk County, Des Moines has seen a rapid increase in the number of soccer fans and participants. The stadium would undoubtedly act as an additional entertainment option and attract more young people and families to Des Moines. >