Des Moines or Madison, WI (Ames, Wyoming: universities, live, vs.)

[zz4guy]

Souix Falls is a lot smaller than DSM while Omaha is a lot larger so Madison seems to be an almost equal comparison:

Roughly the same population
Both are state capitols with a lot of government jobs.
Both have Universities near by, although you have to drive 20+ miles to get to IA State.
Both have decent zoos.
Both metros are growing rapidly.
Both economies are based in the services/professional market vs. manufacturing.
Neither one has a Pro sports team.

Some differences I can think of are:
Traffic - Madison's freeways can be bad at rush hour. DSM has a better thought out system IMO.
Weather - Warmer in DSM and longer colder winters in Madison.
International airport at DSM with, I assume, more direct domestic flights.

What else can you add?

[DSMGuy]

I'll have to concede that Madison is tough to beat. A major university in the city with all the excitement and events that go on, athletics, etc. A big lake in the middle of the city.

DM has a much better skyline. I haven't been to Madison in years, so I don't know if its suburban areas look as nice as DM's. Your points are all on target.

I imagine the cultural offerings quite a bit better than DM with U of W there, it would probably be more frequent events. As far as sports, Big 10 sports right in your city, hard to beat. DM's AAA baseball and hockey don't measure up to U of W football, and probably U of W hockey is pretty big time. I don't know if Madison has AAA baseball, so DM might win out with higher level baseball in the summer in a very nice ballpark. I know Ames is about 30 miles down the road, but Ames is nothing like Madison and you can't beat having that stuff right in your city.

I think an ideal place would be like Columbus, OH with the big city look and feel (great skyline), major university, state capitol. It would be like putting DM and Madison together.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

.
International airport at DSM with, I assume, more direct domestic flights.

Des Moines airport is "International" in name only. There is no commercial carrier from DSM which offers scheduled service to a destination outside of the US.

[pepe1]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Des Moines airport is "International" in name only. There is no commercial carrier from DSM which offers scheduled service to a destination outside of the US.

BFD. What you have stated is not the criteria used to obtain the "international" designation.

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by pepe1

BFD. What you have stated is not the criteria used to obtain the "international" designation.

I'm told that having a customs dept. on site makes your airport an International airport.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by pepe1

BFD. What you have stated is not the criteria used to obtain the "international" designation.

There is no criterion requirement for an airport to designate itself as "international". What an airport decides to call itself is not regulated or approved by any federal governing body. Here's a small list of cities who have "International" in their airport title:

Great Falls, Montana
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Minot, North Dakota
Natrona County (Casper), Wyoming
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Jackson, Mississippi
Klamath Falls, Oregon

Basically, any airport can put the word "International" in its title. There are even airports which have no commercial service whatsoever, and still label themselves "International". (See Clow International in Bolingbrook, Illinois)

[RonnieJonez]

True, by using such a technicality someone could call their backyard an "International Destination" too, that does not mean it is regarded as such by the outside world.

[mfrerkes]

There are two articles that mention exactly the point I've made: Airports put "International" in their title purely for the purposes of marketing and local boosterism.

BRIEFLY : Some Airports Seek 'International' Lift - International Herald Tribune

Chicago, IL - Destination from Gary Chicago International Airport

There is no standard to be met for qualifying as an "International" airport. PERIOD.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

There is no criterion requirement for an airport to designate itself as "international". What an airport decides to call itself is not regulated or approved by any federal governing body. Here's a small list of cities who have "International" in their airport title:

Great Falls, Montana
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Minot, North Dakota
Natrona County (Casper), Wyoming
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Jackson, Mississippi
Klamath Falls, Oregon

Basically, any airport can put the word "International" in its title. There are even airports which have no commercial service whatsoever, and still label themselves "International". (See Clow International in Bolingbrook, Illinois)

I thought as well if you fly cargo planes to canada/mexico you can be international. I'm sure you would get mail or some sort of cargo type flight to Canada.

but ANYWAY.

I grew up in Iowa and Love Des Moines, but I'm going to have to give this to Madison.

Really though, Madison is a pretty kick ass little city. It is hard to beat on many levels for many cities in the country. This certainly isn't a knock on Des Moines, but Madison's got it goin on.

[mfrerkes]

My brother lived in Madison for a year and hated it beyond description. I think his conservative political leanings were not exactly appreciated by the locals.