In order to remain competitive in pursuit of future group business, officials in Polk County, Iowa, say that Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines—part of the Iowa Events Center—needs an additional 60,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space, reports local newspaper the Des Moines Register. To get it, they've expressed support for a $33 million proposal that would renovate the neighboring Veterans Memorial Auditorium, turning it from an arena-type venue into one with flexible, usable meeting space."We made a decision a number of years ago to build the Iowa Events Center," Polk County Supervisor E.J. Giovannetti told the Register. "I think it's absolutely critical, based on what we know today, that we protect that investment."The $217 million Iowa Events Center includes the new Wells Fargo Arena, which opened in 2005; Hy-Vee Hall, which opened in 2004; and two older facilities, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, which opened in 1955, and the Polk County Convention Complex, which opened in 1985.If the Hy-Vee Hall addition is approved—consultants have already been commissioned at a cost of $25,000 to explore expansion options—Veterans Memorial Auditorium will be gutted in order to replace the existing stage and arena seating with two floors of ballroom and meeting space. Without that space, county officials say Des Moines will be unable to retain existing convention business, as inadequate facilities have already caused the city to lose potential contracts.