Iowa Barnstormers ( AF2 ) The Iowa Barnstormers are an arena football team based in Des Moines , Iowa . They are currently members of the Arena Football League ( AFL ) , which they joined in 2010 following the organization ' s restructuring . They play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena , known in arena football circles as " The Barn " . Several teams called the Iowa Barnstormers have played in the AFL or its developmental league , af2 , since 1995 . The original team played in Des Moines ' Veterans Memorial Auditorium from 1995 – 2000 , and subsequently relocated to Uniondale , New York , where they were known as the New York Dragons . The following year Des Moines was awarded an af2 franchise that carried on the Barnstormers name and branding , but the team suspended operations after the end of the 2001 season . In 2008 a new Barnstormers team began play in the af2 , now based in the new Wells Fargo Arena ; this team joined the new AFL in 2010 following the league ' s reorganization . History . 1995 - 2001 . On April 25 , 1994 , the Arena Football League approved an expansion team to be based in Des Moines , Iowa , starting with the 1995 season . The team was to be owned by Jim Foster , the inventor of arena football and the founder of the Arena Football League . On May 12 , 1995 , the Barnstormers played their first regular season game , on the road against the Milwaukee Mustangs . In a wild finish that saw both teams combine to score 24 points in the final 40 . 4 seconds of the fourth quarter , the Barnstormers won , 69 - 61 . The next weekend , May 20 , 1995 , the Barnstormers played their first regular season home game against the Miami Hooters at Veterans Memorial Auditorium , winning 41 - 29 . Behind the strength of AFL Coach of the Year John Gregory , the Barnstormers would race to a 3 - 0 start and secure the fifth seed for the playoffs . After upsetting defending ArenaBowl champion Arizona , 56 - 52 , in their first playoff game , the Barnstormers would fall , 56 - 49 , to sixth - seeded Orlando in the semifinals . After an 0 - 1 start to their second season , the Barnstormers would win their first division title , capturing the Central Division crown on the strength of eight consecutive wins to close the season . After edging St . Louis and Albany in the first two rounds of the playoffs , the top - seeded Barnstormers would drop a 42 - 38 heartbreaker at home to second - seeded Tampa Bay in ArenaBowl X . In 1997 , the Barnstormers would repeat as Central Division champions with an 11 - 3 record , including a 61 - 38 road thrashing of the rival Storm to avenge the previous season ' s ArenaBowl defeat . With the second seed in the playoffs , the Barnstormers would avenge a regular season defeat against seventh - seeded San Jose , 68 - 59 , before racing past fourth - seeded Orlando 52 - 34 to reach the franchise ' s second ArenaBowl in three seasons . However , in ArenaBowl XI , Arizona would use a 42 - 13 scoring stretch over the middle two periods to roll past Iowa , 55 - 33 . Star offensive specialist Willis Jacox would retire after the 1997 season while star quarterback Kurt Warner would sign with the St . Louis Rams of the NFL . Forced to rebuild after losing the eventual two - time NFL MVP , the Barnstormers would limp to an 0 - 5 start in 1998 . After acquiring Aaron Garcia from New Jersey , the Stormers would improve , and a three - game winning streak sparked by Garcia and rookie sensation Kevin Swayne would put the Barnstormers into playoff contention late in the year , but they would falter and finish 5 - 9 , their worst season in their time in Iowa . In 1999 , the Barnstomer resurgence under Garica continued , with Iowa winning nine of their last ten regular season games ( following a 2 - 2 start ) to capture their third Central Division title in four seasons and secure the second seed in the playoffs . A thrashing of division rival Milwaukee in the quarerfinals coupled with eighth - seeded Orlando ' s 41 - 19 shocker at Tampa Bay set Iowa up at home against the eighth - seeded Predators with a chance to advance to another home ArenaBowl . However , Orlando would continue its shocking run to ArenaBowl XIII with a 56 - 49 upset of the Barnstormers . The 2000 Barnstormers would put up startling offensive numbers , as Garcia would throw for 92 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions , with 46 of the touchdowns going to Mike Horacek . Despite this prolific offense , Iowa would start slowly , losing three of their first four games . However , a five - game winning streak would return the Barnstormers to the thick of the playoff hunt , and Iowa would go on to win their fourth Central Division crown in six seasons of play , earning them the third seed in the newly expanded playoffs . However , Iowa ' s playoff run would come to a quick end on a Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinals , as sixth - seeded Nashville would score the final 14 points to defeat Iowa , 49 - 42 . 2000 - 2001 . The need for a more modern venue as well as the league ' s desire for a larger market led to the move to New York despite two failed past attempts in the city , the New York Knights ( 1988 ) and the New York CityHawks ( 1997 - 1998 ) , both of which played at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan . The team was purchased by Charles Wang , who is also the Islanders ' majority owner and re - named the New York Dragons . Aside from the league ' s desire to re - enter the New York market , another major reason cited for the team ' s relocation was the inadequacy of their Des Moines venue , the Iowa Veterans Memorial Auditorium , also known as " The Barn " . Most of the seats in this venue were located directly along the sidelines as is typical of high school sports venues . The Barnstormers organization constantly lobbied for the construction of a better facility during their time in Des Moines to no avail . The Arena Football organization awarded an af2 franchise to Iowa for the 2001 season , which continued the Barnstormer name . However , low attendance ( less than half of the average of the AFL franchise ) and a relatively poor season ( a five - game winning streak to close the season wasn ' t able to turn a 4 - 7 start into a playoff berth ) would lead to that franchise suspending operations following their first season . 2008 - 2009 . On September 20 , 2007 , the af2 announced that they had approved the inactive franchise ' s new ownership , meaning that the Barnstormers resumed play in 2008 at the Wells Fargo Arena . They hold practices at the historic Veterans Memorial Auditorium , and they inherited the tradition of the original Barnstormers . The team adopted the original unique uniforms , which in keeping with the aviation theme included the depiction of goggles on the helmets , wings on the shoulders of the jerseys , and propellers on the pants legs . The mascot , a dog named Ace , is featured in this helmet , along with the uniform jersey and pants . After being on hiatus for six seasons , the Barnstormers played their first regular season game of 2008 , falling at the Louisville Fire 58 - 28 on March 29 , 2008 . The following week , they would return home for a Monday Night primetime match - up with the Lexington Horsemen on April 14 , 2008 . In the debut of Arena Football at the Wells Fargo Arena , the Barnstormers lost a close 43 - 41 contest . The next week , Iowa won their first regular season match - up since 2001 ( their 75th overall ) , defeating the Quad City Steamwheelers 58 - 38 on April 19 in Moline , Illinois . The team would win their first home game at the Wells Fargo Arena on April 26 , 2008 , defeating the Stockton Lightning 47 - 24 . 2010 . On September 28 , 2009 , the Barnstormers announced their status as a charter member of the new Arena Football League , marking their return to playing top - notch arena football after almost a decade of lower levels and inactivity . Record vs . Opponents . Note : Includes Playoffs Home Record : 44 - 30 Away Record : 45 - 23 Attendance . In both 2008 and 2009 , Iowa ranked second in af2 attendance to Spokane , with attendances of 9 , 341 and 9 , 520 , respectively . During the 2008 season , the Barnstormers ranked 17th in average home paid attendance out of the 46 combined teams in the Arena Football League and Arenafootball2 . Historically , the Barnstormers have ranked high in home paid attendance . In the Arena Football League , they finished 7th in 1995 , 8th in 1996 , 9th in 1997 , 8th in 1998 , 9th in 1999 , and 9th in 2000 . The Barnstormers have averaged 10 , 418 per game in home paid attendance throughout the team ' s history .