Iowa is home to many exciting spectator sports, including collegiate games starring the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the first presidential primary contest, which kicks off the political election spectacle every four years.
Throughout the state, groups will also find various active pursuits, from go-karting and golf tournaments to cheerleading with a local squad and getting lost in a massive corn maze.
Central Iowa
Groups seeking a fun on-the-sidelines outing in Greater Des Moines have access, depending on the season, to sporting events that include Iowa Energy basketball, Iowa Cubs baseball, Iowa Barnstormers football, Iowa Wild hockey, Des Moines Menace soccer and Iowa Speedway NASCAR.
“Many of these sports teams offer group ticket discounts, special announcements, food-and-drink packages, suites or special designated sections,” says Katie Fencl, director of sports at the Greater Des Moines CVB.
For more adventurous groups, Fencl suggests booking a teambuilding outing at either MB2 Raceway, an indoor go-kart facility where attendees can rev up to 45mph during various racing challenges, or Brenton Plaza, which has an outdoor skating rink that’s open November through March.
“Groups can do group skating lessons, synchronized skating, obstacle courses, relay races and more while gazing up at the stars and the downtown Des Moines skyline,” Fencl says.
Among the area’s group-friendly sports venues that host off-site events are Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs, which offers space for groups of all sizes and specialized scoreboard messages; and Ricochet, a BYOB game lounge where groups can play friendly rounds of ping pong, foosball, darts and more.
Group-friendly golf courses in Central Iowa include the Ames-based Coldwater Golf Links, which accommodates everything from small corporate tournaments to large fundraising events, and the Marshalltown-based Harvester Golf Club, which also facilitates group tournaments of varying sizes.
Eastern Iowa
In Cedar Rapids, groups are welcome to hit the links at Elmcrest Country Club, the course where pro Zach Johnson, 2015 British Open and 2007 Masters champion, began playing golf and developing his skills.
Groups meeting here also give great scores for off-site events at Bloomsbury Farm, where a giant corn maze, ziplines, hayrack rides and pumpkin patches are among the fun experiences.
“Enjoy a hog roast and other delicious Iowa farm dishes, and music and dancing in one of the barns,” says Jennifer Pickar, director of communications and marketing for the Cedar Rapids Area CVB. “Top the evening off at a bonfire to toast marshmallows and make s’mores.”
Pickar adds the CVB can assist in securing group rates, special seating and tours for any Cedar Rapids semi-professional sports team.
“We can even work with your group to plan a progressive tailgating party,” she says, explaining a party might include learning a routine from Cedar Rapids Rampage cheerleaders, enjoying game-day fare at Veterans Memorial Stadium, and concluding the evening with yummy desserts at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
When convening in the Quad Cities area, groups should check out the iWireless Center, home of the Quad City Mallards hockey team, and Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits baseball team.
According to Jessica Waytenick, public relations and marketing manager for the Quad Cities CVB, group tickets and special group seating is available at each facility.
Modern Woodmen Park, she adds, is the No. 1 minor league ballpark in the country.
“They have your typical ballpark fare, but they can also do elegant hors d’oeuvres and sit-down dinners,” she says.
The Quad Cities is also home to 11 group-friendly golf courses, including TPC Deere Run, Glynns Creek and Fyre Lake National Golf Club, and Adventure Quest, which offers corporate teambuilding via ropes courses and more.
The Iowa City/Coralville area boasts a close proximity to the University of Iowa (UI), and according to Clarissa Kane, director of creative services for the Iowa City/Coralville Area CVB, groups can attend a UI sporting event, from basketball and wrestling to volleyball.
Group-friendly sports venues here are also affiliated with UI, including the Carver-Hawkeye Arena and the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center.
When in Waterloo, depending on the season, groups should go to a Waterloo Black Hawks hockey or Waterloo Bucks baseball game.
According to Beth Keeney, marketing and communications director at the Waterloo CVB, groups of 10 or more can count on discounted tickets, delicious ballpark food and beverages, and special group seating either in the stands or in one of the designated group areas.
Bicycling is a favorite group activity in Dubuque, which is home to the picturesque and cyclist-friendly Heritage Trail, and in Cedar Falls, where attendees can rent gear from Bike Tech and then pedal a half block away to the Cedar Trail system for a leisurely ride.
Western Iowa
Groups are invited to cheer along with locals at Sioux City Musketeers hockey, Sioux City Bandits football and Sioux City Explorers baseball games.
According to Melissa Lanzourakis, marketing manager for Visit Sioux City, all three sporting teams offer either suites or other gathering areas complete with food and drink for networking opportunities.
“A Sioux City Musketeers game is tough to beat with a chill in the air and the action heating up on the ice,” she says.
The Sioux City Bandits play at the Tyson Events Center, where groups can book an official “party zone” with complimentary drinks and food all night long, and the Sioux City Explorers play at Lewis & Clark Park (LCP).
“Groups enjoy socializing with co-workers inside LCP suites, while enjoying delicious culinary options like beef tenderloin or stuffed shrimp,” Lanzourakis says. “From behind home plate, your group will catch all the action throughout the game.”
Council Bluffs has several recreational options on deck for visiting groups, from golf outings at group-friendly courses like Bent Tree Golf Club, to relaxing visits at Shady Lane Ranch, where the group can have a party complete with a bonfire, horseback riding and hayrack rides.
And in Okoboji, waterborne pursuits round out any meeting itinerary. Among the possibilities here are guided fishing excursions, sunset cocktail cruises, water skiing, kayaking and exploring local waters aboard pontoon or paddle boats.
