Des Moines Civic Center Seating Chart
Downtown Des Moines' main performing-arts hall, opened in 1979 and the Iowa home of touring Broadway productions. The fan-shaped hall and continental seating give it wide rows and clean sightlines, anchoring the city's cultural district along the Principal Riverwalk.
Sections at Des Moines Civic Center
Des Moines Civic Center's seating bowl is organized into the following main sections. Section layout differs by event — a sports configuration and a concert configuration of the same arena are not the same chart.
- Orchestra — main floor, full width
- Loge — lowest balcony tier
- Mezzanine — middle balcony
- Balcony — upper tier
Best seats at Des Moines Civic Center
Center orchestra rows M through U give the best Broadway-tour view with full-stage framing and strong sound. The loge center is the premium alternative — elevated and close, clear of any overhang from the floor.
Tips before you go
The hall uses continental seating with no center aisle, so rows are entered from the sides; pick a seat near your preferred aisle. Downtown skywalk-connected garages keep you indoors in Iowa winters and beat street parking after the curtain.
How to read the Des Moines Civic Center seating chart
Des Moines Civic Center seats 2,744 on stacked levels facing the stage, so reading the chart means thinking in tiers rather than rings. The orchestra — the main floor — sits closest to the stage; above it the mezzanine and then the balcony step back and up, and box seats line the sides. Lower row letters are nearer the stage, center sections face it square on, and side sections trade a straight view for a lower price.
Three things decide a Des Moines Civic Center seat: how far from the stage you are, whether you sit center or off toward a side aisle, and which level you are on. For a theater this size, the value sweet spot is usually the front of the mezzanine at center — an unobstructed, elevated view of the whole stage without orchestra-row prices. Watch for overhang and any "partial view" note on your seat, and cross-check the official Des Moines Civic Center map before you buy.
Building a seating chart for an event at Des Moines Civic Center
Hosting a suite night, a group outing, or a private event in the Des Moines area? A seating chart keeps the group organized before you ever reach the gates. Map your party onto tables that mirror the suite or section layout, assign each guest a spot, and export a PDF so everyone knows where they sit. For a private event in a banquet space near Des Moines Civic Center, the same tool lays out rounds, banquet tables, and head tables, then prints a chart the venue's event-services team can work from. Capacity at Des Moines Civic Center runs to 2,744 for its main configuration, but most private events use a fraction of that in a club, suite, or adjacent hospitality space — exactly the scale the maker below is built for.
Hosting a private event at Des Moines Civic Center?
Build your own seating chart for the event — banquet rounds for the dinner portion, theater rows for the program, whatever the format calls for. The Seat Chart App maker handles layouts up to 500 seats and exports a print-ready PDF to share with the venue's event team.
Open the seating chart generatorFrequently asked questions
- How many seats does Des Moines Civic Center hold?
- Des Moines Civic Center has a capacity of 2,744 seats. Capacity varies by event configuration — a concert may use floor seating that a basketball game doesn't, and a private buyout uses a different count than a public event.
- What are the best seats at Des Moines Civic Center?
- Center orchestra rows M through U give the best Broadway-tour view with full-stage framing and strong sound. The loge center is the premium alternative — elevated and close, clear of any overhang from the floor.
- What sections does Des Moines Civic Center have?
- Main sections include: Orchestra — main floor, full width; Loge — lowest balcony tier; Mezzanine — middle balcony. Full breakdown in the sections list above.
- Where is Des Moines Civic Center located?
- Des Moines Civic Center is in Des Moines, Iowa. Check the venue's official website for the exact address, parking options, and public transit access closest to your seat section.
- How do I plan a private event at Des Moines Civic Center?
- For private events, build a seating chart that maps to the venue's section layout using the Seat Chart App maker below. Drop tables to match your event's footprint within the venue's space, assign guests, and export a PDF to share with the venue's event-services team.