Acrisure Arena

Acrisure Arena is a multi-purpose 10,000-seat indoor arena in the unincorporated community of Thousand Palms in Riverside County, California's, Coachella Valley Palm Springs Area. The arena opened in December 2022 on 43.35 acres (17.54 ha) of land near the city of Palm Desert, between Interstate 10 and the Classic Club golf course. It is the home arena for the American Hockey League's Coachella Valley Firebirds. Acrisure, a financial technology company, paid an undisclosed sum for 10 years of naming rights.[2]

Not to be confused with Acrisure Stadium.
Acrisure Arena
Interior of the arena during a 2023 Coachella Valley Firebirds game
Former namesCoachella Valley Arena (planning/construction)
New Arena at Agua Caliente (planning/construction)
Riverside County Arena (planning/construction)
Address75702 Varner Road
Thousand Palms, California, U.S.[1]
LocationThousand Palms
Coordinates33°46′45″N 116°20′20″W
OwnerOak View Group
OperatorLive Nation
CapacityConcerts: 11,679
Basketball: 10,815
Hockey: 10,087
Construction
Broke groundJune 2, 2021
OpenedDecember 14, 2022
Construction cost$290 million
ArchitectPopulous
Project managerCAA Icon
Structural engineerWalter P Moore
General contractorAECOM Hunt
Tenants
Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) (2022-present)
Website
Venue Website

History

On June 26, 2019, it was reported that the ownership of the upcoming Seattle Kraken had chosen Palm Springs as the site for Seattle's AHL affiliate and that the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Oak View Group (OVG) had teamed up to build an arena on band-owned land as a home for their proposed expansion team.[3] The 10,000-seat arena was estimated to cost $250 million. OVG CEO Tim Leiweke relied upon a feasibility study on the future of sports events and tourism in the Coachella Valley, independently authored by Coachella Sports & Entertainment Stadium Authority and the non-profit SoCal Coyotes Sports Leadership Organization, as proof of the viability for a multi-purpose venue in Palm Springs.[4]

Rendering of proposed venue (c.2019)

The proposed arena was to be constructed on part of the Spa Resort Casino's parking lots now Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs and be owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians with the Oak View Group as the arena operator.[5] It would also have had an adjoining facility to serve as a year-round community gathering space as well as the training center for the AHL team.[6] Groundbreaking and construction on the arena was expected to begin in February 2020, with completion by fall 2021, but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting ban on large gatherings including concerts and sporting events.[7][8] By September 2020, OVG's negotiations with the tribe had come to a halt and the agreement was ended do to COVID-19 financial impacts on the tribe.[9]

On September 16, 2020, the Oak View Group and H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation[10] announced they had chosen a new location for the arena in the middle of the Coachella Valley near Palm Desert, but it would not open until at least 2022.[11] The arena operator will lease land owned by the Foundation between Interstate 10 and the Foundation's Classic Club golf course.[12] Groundbreaking on the project took place on June 2, 2021.[13]

The arena opened for its first event—a comedy show featuring Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle—on December 14, 2022.[14] The first hockey game at Acrisure Arena was played four days later, with the Firebirds defeating the Tucson Roadrunners 4–3 with a sellout crowd of 10,087 in attendance.[15] According to OVG president Tim Leiweke, the arena's location between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix is advantageous for touring bands as a "working vacation" spot with rehearsal space.[16]

The Firebirds hosted four games of the 2023 Calder Cup Finals at Acrisure Arena and established an American Hockey League record for total playoff attendance with 138,053 fans attending 16 postseason games.[17]

References
  1. "Directions & Parking". Acrisure Arena. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  2. "Acrisure and Oak View Group Announce 10-year Naming Rights for Coachella Valley Arena". businesswire.com (Press release). BusinessWire. January 26, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  3. "NHL Seattle chooses Palm Springs as site for new AHL farm team". The Seattle Times. June 26, 2019.
  4. "Hockey in Palm Springs? NHL Insiders Confirm Rumors". NBC Palm Springs - News, Weather, Traffic, Breaking News. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  5. "Agua Caliente plans new downtown Palm Springs sports, entertainment arena. Projected cost for arena is $250M". Desert Sun. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  6. Reichard, Kevin (June 28, 2019). "Surprise: Early Reaction to New Palm Springs Arena Includes Parking, Traffic Concerns". Arena Digest. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  7. Ulrich, Amanda (June 17, 2020). "Palm Springs arena plans on hold during coronavirus pandemic, CEO confirms". Desert Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. "Agua Caliente's Palm Springs arena plan stokes excitement — and fears of traffic, blocked views". Desert Sun. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  9. "Seattle Kraken delays AHL franchise by 1 year". ESPN. September 16, 2020.
  10. "Seattle Kraken AHL franchise to begin play in 2022". Cascadia Sports Network. September 16, 2020.
  11. "Seattle Kraken AHL affiliate will still play in Coachella Valley; won't start until 2022-23 season". The Desert Sun. September 16, 2020.
  12. "Planned Palm Springs arena is moving to mid-valley; Agua Caliente tribe no longer involved". Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  13. "Coachella Valley arena: After two years of discussion, officials break ground on future home". Desert Sun. June 2, 2021.
  14. Blueskye, Brian (December 15, 2022). "Chris Rock breaks silence on slap; Chappelle jokes about blaming Jews for 'my problems'". Desert Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  15. John, Andrew L. (December 18, 2022). "Firebirds rock Acrisure Arena with 4-3 win in first game inside $500 million venue". Desert Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  16. Brown, August (December 8, 2022). "Destination or gentrification? A sleek new arena rises in the Coachella Valley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  17. "AHL establishes playoff attendance record". June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
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