Principal Park

Principal Park sits on the south edge of downtown Des Moines at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, with the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol rising on the hill directly behind the outfield wall — the canonical Principal Park photograph and one of the most-cited ballpark backdrops in MiLB. The East Village — the destination downtown Des Moines restaurant-and-boutique district — sits a short walk or short ride northeast across the Des Moines River. Downtown Des Moines proper sits a short walk north and has reinvested heavily over the past decade. The Western Gateway sculpture park and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park sit a short walk northwest. Des Moines reads as a mid-sized Plains state capital with a stronger-than-expected downtown restaurant scene and the river-and-Capitol setting as the defining game-day visual.

Plan to arrive about 45-60 minutes before first pitch — Principal Park parking flow is gentle on most weeknight dates and busier on fireworks Fridays and giveaway nights. Principal Park opened in 1992 as Sec Taylor Stadium (renamed Principal Park in 2004 under the Principal Financial Group naming-rights agreement — Principal is Des Moines-headquartered). The Iowa Cubs are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and the affiliation has been continuous since 1981 — among the longest continuous parent-affiliate relationships in all of MiLB. Top Cubs prospects and rehabbing major-leaguers pass through Iowa frequently, making Principal Park a canonical road-trip stop for Chicago Cubs fans tracking the pipeline. The gold-domed Iowa State Capitol behind the outfield is the canonical Principal Park photograph. Mobile-only tickets are the norm. Bag policy and gate-open times shift season to season; confirm on the Iowa Cubs' site before going.

Principal Park opened in 1992 in downtown Des Moines at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, replacing the original Sec Taylor Stadium on the same general site. The ballpark was named Sec Taylor Stadium at opening (after Sec Taylor, a longtime Des Moines Register sportswriter) and was renamed Principal Park in 2004 under the Principal Financial Group naming-rights agreement — Principal is Des Moines-headquartered. The Sec Taylor name lives on as a designation for the playing field within Principal Park. The Iowa Cubs are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs — the parent-club affiliation has been continuous since 1981, making it one of the longest continuous parent-affiliate relationships in MiLB. The ballpark seats around 11,500, with the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol rising on the hill directly behind the outfield wall as the canonical Principal Park visual.