The MLS NEXT Pro plan would reportedly seat between 5,500 and 6,500 spectators and bring a Kansas City-based team to a downtown venue. Its proposed location, near the Iowa Events Center and Casey’s Center, would place football close to existing event infrastructure.
The update says the stadium could also host festivals, concerts and other sporting events. That broader calendar matters because a venue of this size would need activity beyond matchdays.
Krause’s proposal is reportedly built around an 8,000-seat stadium within a development estimated at $550 million, including hotels, restaurants and retail. The stadium itself has been projected at $95 million.
The report says the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation has secured commitments exceeding $58 million from state, city and county governments. However, the project faces environmental remediation at the former Dico site and depends partly on the surrounding development gaining value.
That creates a clear contrast: the MLS-linked plan appears less expensive and easier to connect to existing downtown facilities, while the USL vision promises a larger real-estate transformation.
The proposed MLS NEXT Pro stadium would reportedly be owned by a public entity or independent board, with league operations. The USL venue would be tied to the foundation-led project. That difference could shape long-term control, financing and community expectations as much as league affiliation.
The report says Des Moines ended negotiations with Krause in August, after more than seven years of discussions. The next stage will be a careful review of cost, site readiness and football demand. The city’s eventual choice could define its professional soccer identity for the next decade.