DES MOINES, IA. – Principal Park is gearing up for an unforgettable summer in 2025, packed with exciting sports and entertainment events for fans of all ages. From college baseball showdowns to high-energy concerts and a celebrity charity softball game, the stadium will host three signature events beginning in early May.
IOWA HAWKEYE DES MOINES SERIES | MAY 9–11
The University of Iowa baseball team will return to Principal Park for a highly anticipated three-game series against Oregon State, one of the top programs in college baseball. This is the second consecutive year Principal Park will host the Hawkeyes for this special weekend event. Iowa natives Gable Mitchell and Cade Obermueller will lead the Hawkeyes into action.
“I think people will start paying even more attention as the Big 10 season gets a little bit deeper,” Iowa Cubs Vice President/Assistant General Manager Randy Wehofer said. “Oregon State is a tradition-rich college baseball program with multiple national championships under their belt. So, this is going to be a great matchup, and the opportunity to host events outside of Iowa Cubs baseball but still baseball-related is a lot of fun.”
Games will be held on Friday, May 9, at 6:35 p.m., Saturday, May 10, at 3:05 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, at 1:05 p.m. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Fans are encouraged to arrive early on Friday and Saturday to take part in a special autograph session with the Iowa players as soon as the gates open.
Reserved seating is available at $15 for the lower level and $12 for the upper level. Full-series ticket packages are also available. Proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit the Iowa Hawkeye baseball team.
Wehofer added, “It brings a different kind of baseball fan to the ballpark to see what Principal Park is all about and hopefully come back during the summer for an Iowa Cubs game or two.”
SPRING INTO SUMMER CONCERT SERIES PRESENTED BY B-BOPS | MAY 23–24
Principal Park will host a two-day music festival on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 as part of the Spring Into Summer Concert Series, presented by B-BOPS. The series will kick off with a night of rock music on Friday, headlined by The Pork Tornadoes and featuring special guests Damon Dotson and Punching Pandas. On Saturday, country fans can enjoy a performance by headliner Craig Campbell, along with opening acts Jordan Beem and Brad Morgan.
“We are very excited about it, people have always responded well when we’ve done live music events,” Wehofer said. “We thought with the team being gone for Memorial Day weekend was a good opportunity to find local artists and provide something fun to do for folks that are in town for the holiday. We’ve had a relationship with some of the artists before and have made some new introductions to some others and the response so far has been really good,” he added.
Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. on both nights, and performances will begin at 6:00 p.m. The concert stage will be set up adjacent to the third base dugout, providing an up-close experience for attendees.
General admission tickets are priced at $15 for a single day or $25 for both nights. For an enhanced concert experience, fans can purchase a SoFi Left Field Lounge Pass, which includes a game ticket, three beers, snacks, and access to a private bar and restrooms. The Lounge Pass is available for $30 per day or $55 for both days. Another option is the Bud Club ticket, which includes all-you-can-eat-and-drink access to beer, soda, chicken tenders, hot dogs, popcorn, and more. Bud Club tickets are $60 per day or $120 for both days. A limited number of suites are also available, and fans interested in reserving a suite should contact Brent Conkel for more information.
COOPER DEJEAN ALL-STAR CHARITY SOFTBALL GAME | JUNE 1
Professional football star and Iowa native Cooper DeJean is teaming up with Octane Sports to host the Cooper DeJean All-Star Charity Softball Game at Principal Park. The event will feature NFL athletes and University of Iowa alumni in a friendly but competitive softball matchup, with proceeds supporting the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
“It’s very exciting because we started talking about this even before he became a national name with his pick-6 in the Super Bowl,” Wehofer said. “We’ve always tried to make Principal Park the place where big things in the community happen, whether that’s overlapping with an Iowa Cubs game or an outside event.”
Cooper DeJean will captain one of the teams, joined by NFL stars AJ Brown, Reed Blankenship, and Isaiah Rodgers. The opposing team will be led by fellow pro football player and Ankeny native Riley Moss, who will be joined by Bo Nix, Will Lutz, Alex Singleton, and Mike McGlinchey. Other participating athletes include Jay Higgins, CJ Beathard, and Avonte Maddox.
Wehofer added, “The opportunity to help Cooper start the fundraiser, the opportunity to bring in other events, was just a way to showcase the ballpark, be a community center, and be a resource. When exciting things are happening in town, we want people to think the ballpark is the right place to host that.”
A memorabilia auction will take place on the concourse during the event, with all proceeds going to the hospital. While meet-and-greet tickets have already sold out, general admission tickets will still be available for fans who want to enjoy the game and support a great cause.
A portion of all ticket sales, along with 100% of auction and meet & greet proceeds, will go directly to support pediatric patients at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
