ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild are moving their primary minor league team to Iowa.

The Wild made the long-anticipated announcement Thursday that their American Hockey League affiliate will relocate from Houston to Des Moines, starting next season.

Wild chief operating officer Matt Majka says the organization was unable to agree on terms of a new arena lease at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Aeros have been the Wild's top minor league club in the 30-team AHL since 2001.

Des Moines is about a 3½-hour drive from the Twin Cities.

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