UNI-Dome name change. A riverfront improvement. Credit card debt. Supportive housing. And turning lightning into lemons.

The University of Northern Iowa recently announced it will be selling the naming rights to its well-known UNI-Dome through Learfield. The facility, an impressive one for a university of UNI’s size, opened in 1976 for $7.5 million. It’s well-known across the state for hosting the IHSAA state football championships. 

Outside of its uses for Panther and high school football, former first lady Michelle Obama delivered the headlining address of the spring 2011 graduation ceremony. The venue has hosted concerts by some of music’s biggest names including the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead and Fleetwood Mac, which set the attendance record of 25,500 in 1979. 

The building has seen several renovations over the years. In 1994, the once air-supported roof collapsed due to a snowstorm and was replaced by a metal roof. The roof went through another renovation in 2010 after storm damages in 2009. In 2014, the dome added a 98-foot by 26-foot video board, which, at the time, was the second-largest in FCS football. Astroturf was installed to the field in 2017. 

In 2024, UNI wrapped up phase one of its most recent renovation to the tune of $11.2 million, complete with a new Teflon-coated fiberglass roof and new meeting rooms that double as suites. Phase two, which is currently in progress, is said to including an overhaul of the stadium seating, new suites and improved accessibility. Future parts of this current renovation are a new indoor track, restrooms, improved lighting and sound systems and enhanced finishes on graphics throughout the dome. According to the official renovation website for the dome, because everything must have its own website, the dome brings $17 million in annual economic impact, 200,000 visitors from outside Black Hawk County and 500,000 annual visitors in total.

And the cost for these naming rights? The biggest price tags are currently $5 million for the west concourse or the press box; $3.5 million for the northwest, southwest, northeast and southeast entrance; and $2.5 million for the east concourse or north deck. The cheapest naming rights for sale are $150,000 for several of the field entrances. Some spots are already reserved. For a comparison, Casey’s recent purchase of the former Wells Fargo Arena naming rights went for $18.3 million over 10 years.

While it’s unclear what the exact price tag will be for the entire dome, we have some thoughts on who might write a check. You can’t rule Casey’s out. The convenience store chain added to its naming empire in August after purchasing the naming rights to a new ice rink at the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex for $1 million. Hy-Vee has had its toes dipped into naming rights game before, formerly with Hy-Vee Hall, now the EMC Expo Center, and currently with the Hy-Vee Multiplex, formerly the GrimesPlex. The grocery store chain also own the naming rights to the Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City. Wells Fargo could possibly make a return. John Deere has naming rights to a PGA event and is also the official tractor of the MLB. Plus, they have some on-field branding partnerships across the state. 

Locally, Collins Aerospace could make an interesting naming partnership. They are based close by in Cedar Rapids and could find an interesting play on words between their aerospace work and the space-like nature of the white-topped dome in Cedar Falls. …

The City of Des Moines has continued to try to improve its riverfront area, now working on phase one of Birdland Park and a Marina Master Plan. The project is projected to cost approximately $54.4 million in improvements across five project phases. The plan was originally adopted by the Parks and Recreation Board and the Des Moines City Council in 2021. 

Currently under construction, phase one is designed to connect more people to the Des Moines River. Look for improved parkland, and the area between the Second and Sixth Avenue bridges will be made more accessible, connected and inviting. Once complete, the project will have a public boat dock, better fishing access, enhancements to the Neal Smith Trail and connection to the River Hills trail, two picnic pavilions and enhancements and restorations to natural wetlands. Work on this area is expected to be completed by winter 2026-2027. The project will bring much-needed improvements to the downtown area’s lack of riverfront entertainment. …

According to Achieve, a digital personal finance company, Iowa has the fourth-lowest credit card debt in the U.S. Using data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Achieve says Iowans credit card debt per capita is $3,250. The four states with lower numbers were West Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi, which holds the lowest at $3,030 per capita. There’s good and bad news that comes with this. The bad news is that the U.S. average rose by 4.1% in one year, and credit card balances increased in every single state. The good news is that Iowa had one of the smallest increases in debt, with balances growing by only $80, or 2.5%. Alaska topped the list with the most debt per capita at $5,250, but it looks like they are freezing their spending with the smallest one-year increase at 1.5%. …

Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, an organization that uses a model to offer housing stability to those in need, recently announced it closed on two former extended stay hotels that will become an 89-unit campus at 2701 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines and a 104-unit campus at 3940 114th St. in Urbandale. The organization says residents will have access to fully furnished studio apartments with kitchenettes, bathrooms, community spaces, recreation areas and on-site support services that include case management, counseling and life skills training supported by controlled access and 24-hour staffing. Renovation work is expected to begin this fall and be completed in late 2027. The combined cost of both projects is estimated at $29 million, said to be funded through a combination of private and public sources. …

Iowa’s sixth-largest northern catalpa tree, located in Woodland Cemetery, was struck by lightning, scattering debris for hundreds of feet and putting its survival in danger. Woodland Cemetery enthusiast Mike Rowley has a suggestion if the tree is unable to recover from its shocking attack from above.

“Under the old adage, ‘When life hands you a lemon, make the bittersweet and share it with others.’ Sorry, I am notorious for misquoting old quotes but hopefully the meaning is not lost. I wonder if this might be an opportunity to turn this into the tallest or biggest tree sculpture in Iowa and at the same time, honor some of the history of our capital city of Des Moines?”

Rowley adds this would likely take significant volunteer effort and support. But, with chainsaw carving from the likes of Gary Keenan, T.J. Jenkins and Clint Henik, perhaps the Woodland Cemetery’s tree issue could be resolved. ♦