Dubuque to Get Its First Professional Arena Football Team in 2025

America's insatiable appetite for football has been evident over the last several years. Numerous startup leagues have formed, dissolved, merged, and are still being created. Even in Iowa, we have seen several new teams, including the Iowa Woo of The Arena League and the Dubuque Miners, who are set to begin play next year.

This week, it was revealed that Dubuque will be getting its first-ever professional arena football team. As someone who grew up with arena football in the form of the Chicago Rush, the nostalgia factor is real. I could see Dubuque embracing this team in due time.

It was revealed that the Iowa Power will call Dubuque's Five Flags Center home. The Iowa Power belong to the United Indoor Football Association, a league predicated on a fast-paced, 8-on-8 style of football that is designed to be high-scoring.

After nearly a year of contract negotiations, the Power and Five Flags came to an agreement. Five Flags Center General Manager Aaron Rainey expressed to KCRG his enthusiasm for the new team and league set to play in Dubuque in 2025:

This is just giving our community another option of things to do. It takes our community to the forefront on the football side of things, get seated out there, and with Anthony’s championship record coming in here, we anticipate success. - Five Flags Center General Manager Aaron Rainey, per KCRG

The Iowa Power is owned by Anthony Bartley, who also serves as the team's coach. Bartley has won 11 indoor football championships. While the season schedule is to be determined, tickets will start at $10, making it an affordable evening of fun for families.

Arena football has a special place in the hearts of many Iowans given the state's connection to Kurt Warner, who led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory in 2000. A Burlington, IA native, Warner played college football at Northern Iowa before finding his footing with the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena Football League. His success with the Barnstormers led to the Rams taking a flyer on the undrafted QB, and the rest is rich NFL history.

As much as Warner needed the Arena Football League, frankly, the league needed Warner to show that a pathway from indoor football to the NFL was possible.

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Dubuquers will have the opportunity to meet Iowa Power players and staff at Gary Dolphin's Iron Bar in the Millwork District for a "Meet the Team Night." That event is happening January 15th at 6pm.

Find out more about the Iowa Power on their official website and Facebook page!