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]
