Five Flags Center, Iowa Power close to signing agreement to bring Arena Football to city

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWWL) -- The Iowa Power and the Five Flags Center in Dubuque are close to signing an agreement to bring the arena football team to the city, according to the coach and owner of the team. The deal could come by the end of the week.

In August it was reported that an arena football team called the Iowa Power were looking to take residence at the Five Flags Center Arena.

Owner Anthony Bartley has been in the business of arena football since 2007 and says he was interested in bringing a different sport to the Dubuque area.

Arena football is a high-scoring, fast-paced 8-player game with no sidelines. Bartley said he is determined to bring something different to the area in order to succeed.


Bartley explained, "I don't like to fail. Success is in my DNA, and I refuse to sit back and just let the negative keep me down. For me, feel like I can bring a positive and a highly entertaining sports team to the city of Dubuque."

The Iowa Power recently joined the United Indoor Football Association. Bartley says tickets for the games would range from $10 to $50 and that season passes would be available. Affordability is an important factor.

Bartley said, "I want to make it affordable for families to come and watch this isn't so much about trying to gouge peoples pockets. I want people to come in. I want people to enjoy themselves. I want them to feel like they got more than their moneys worth. So basically for general admission it will be $10 and up to $50."

The team recently partnered with Gary Dolphin's Bar in Dubuque, with Bartley saying that the bar will be used for away game watch parties and after-home game celebrations. The idea is to have fans and players interact there after games at the Five Flags Arena.

He said he has briefly started recruiting players. He added that he would like to get players that are coming from college, NFL, CFL programs, or players from other professional arena teams.

The Iowa Power season is set to begin in the summer of 2025 and end in the fall.