Acrisure Arena
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Short description|Indoor arena near Palm Desert, California}}
{{confuse|Acrisure Stadium}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Acrisure Arena
| nickname =
| logo_image = Acrisure Arena.png
| logo_caption =
| image = Ejf 8593 52987729096 o.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_upright =
| image_alt =
| caption = Interior of the arena during the 2023 Calder Cup Finals
| fullname =
| mapframe = no
| former names = Coachella Valley Arena {{small|(planning/construction)}}
New Arena at Agua Caliente {{small|(planning/construction)}}
Riverside County Arena {{small|(planning/construction)}}
| address = 75702 Varner Road
| location = Thousand Palms, California United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|46|45|N|116|20|20|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = June 2, 2021
| opened = December 14, 2022
| renovated =
| owner = Oak View Group
| operator = Oak View Group
| capacity = 11,000
| suites = 20
| record_attendance =
| dimensions =
| acreage =
| volume =
| tenants = Coachella Valley Firebirds {{small|(AHL) (2022–present)}}
| cost = $290 million
| architect = Populous
| builder = AECOM Hunt
| project_manager = CAA Icon
| structural engineer = Walter P Moore
| services engineer =
| general_contractor = AECOM Hunt
| main_contractors =
| embedded =
| website = {{URL|acrisurearena.com}}
| publictransit =
}}
Acrisure Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in unincorporated Thousand Palms, California{{Cite web |last=Coulter |first=Tom |title=Thousand Palms? Palm Desert? Cathedral City? Acrisure Arena is now open — but where is it? |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2022/12/15/acrisure-arena-open-in-thousand-palms-palm-desert-its-confusing/69731532007/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=The Desert Sun |language=en-US}} in Riverside County, California, United States. The arena opened in December 2022 on {{convert|43.35|acre|ha}} of land in the Coachella Valley between Interstate 10 and the Classic Club golf course. It is the home arena for the American Hockey League's Coachella Valley Firebirds, and is a primary venue for events in the Greater Palm Springs area. The venue's namesake is the eponoymous financial technology and insurance company Acrisure, which purchased the naming rights for an undisclosed amount over a 10-year lease.{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220126005320/en/Acrisure-and-Oak-View-Group-Announce-10-year-Naming-Rights-for-Coachella-Valley-Arena |title=Acrisure and Oak View Group Announce 10-year Naming Rights for Coachella Valley Arena |author= |date=January 26, 2022 |website=businesswire.com |publisher=BusinessWire |access-date=February 15, 2022}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/hockey/nhl-seattle-chooses-palm-springs-as-site-for-new-ahl-farm-team/ |title=NHL Seattle chooses Palm Springs as site for new AHL farm team |website=The Seattle Times |date=June 26, 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2019/06/20/hockey-in-palm-springs-nhl-insiders-confirm-rumors/|title=Hockey in Palm Springs? NHL Insiders Confirm Rumors|date=June 20, 2019|website=NBC Palm Springs - News, Weather, Traffic, Breaking News|language=en|access-date=June 30, 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/2019/06/26/agua-caliente-plans-new-palm-springs-sports-arena-possible-nhl-affiliate-team/1576998001/|title=Agua Caliente plans new downtown Palm Springs sports, entertainment arena. Projected cost for arena is $250M|website=Desert Sun|language=en|access-date=June 30, 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://arenadigest.com/2019/06/28/surprise-early-reaction-to-new-palm-springs-arena-includes-parking-traffic-concerns/|title=Surprise: Early Reaction to New Palm Springs Arena Includes Parking, Traffic Concerns|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=June 28, 2019|website=Arena Digest|language=en-US|access-date=June 30, 2019}} 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.{{Cite news|last=Ulrich|first=Amanda|date=June 17, 2020|title=Palm Springs arena plans on hold during coronavirus pandemic, CEO confirms|work=Desert Sun|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/money/business/tourism/2020/06/17/palm-springs-downtown-arena-plans-hold-during-coronavirus-ceo-confirms/3195950001/|access-date=July 14, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2019/06/27/palm-springs-nhl-live-nation-arena-plans-stoke-excitement-and-fears/1585781001/|title=Agua Caliente's Palm Springs arena plan stokes excitement — and fears of traffic, blocked views|website=Desert Sun|language=en|access-date=June 30, 2019}} By September 2020, OVG's negotiations with the tribe had come to a halt and the agreement was ended due financial impacts on the tribe during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29900182/seattle-kraken-delays-ahl-franchise-1-year |title=Seattle Kraken delays AHL franchise by 1 year |website=ESPN |date=September 16, 2020}}
On September 16, 2020, the Oak View Group and H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation{{Cite web |url=https://www.cascadiasn.com/blog/seattle-kraken-ahl-affiliate-2022 |title=Seattle Kraken AHL franchise to begin play in 2022 |website=Cascadia Sports Network |date=September 16, 2020}} announced they had chosen a new location for the arena in the middle of the Coachella Valley in unincorporated Thousand Palms, California, but it would not open until at least 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/hockey/2020/09/16/seattle-kraken-ahl-affiliate-stay-palm-springs-area-start-2022/5812769002/ |title=Seattle Kraken AHL affiliate will still play in Coachella Valley; won't start until 2022-23 season |website=The Desert Sun |date=September 16, 2020}} The arena operator will lease land owned by the Foundation between Interstate 10 and the Foundation's Classic Club golf course.{{cite news |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/money/business/tourism/2020/09/16/palm-springs-arena-moves-near-palm-desert-agua-caliente-tribe-not-involved/5750834002/ |title=Planned Palm Springs arena is moving to mid-valley; Agua Caliente tribe no longer involved |access-date=September 16, 2020}} Groundbreaking on the project took place on June 2, 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/2021/06/02/palm-springs-area-arena-construction-begins-wednesday-after-two-years-talk/7496295002 |title=Coachella Valley arena: After two years of discussion, officials break ground on future home |website=Desert Sun |date=June 2, 2021}}
The arena opened for its first event—a comedy show featuring Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle—on December 14, 2022.{{cite news |last=Blueskye |first=Brian |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Chris Rock breaks silence on slap; Chappelle jokes about blaming Jews for 'my problems' |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/events/2022/12/15/acrisure-arena-opens-with-sold-out-chris-rock-and-dave-chappelle-show/69729812007/ |work=Desert Sun |accessdate=June 6, 2023}} 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.{{cite news |last=John |first=Andrew L. |date=December 18, 2022 |title=Firebirds rock Acrisure Arena with 4-3 win in first game inside $500 million venue |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/hockey/firebirds/2022/12/19/coachella-valley-firebirds-rock-acrisure-arena-with-impressive-debut/69739236007/ |work=Desert Sun |accessdate=June 6, 2023}} 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.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=August |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Destination or gentrification? A sleek new arena rises in the Coachella Valley |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-12-08/acrisure-arena-palm-desert-springs-coachella-valley-irving-azoff-tim-leiweke-oak-view |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=June 6, 2023}}
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.{{cite news |title=AHL establishes playoff attendance record|url=https://theahl.com/ahl-establishes-playoff-attendance-record|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=June 25, 2023}}
On February 23, 2024, the venue served as the opening venue for Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour, her first arena tour. The show also served as the first arena show for opening act Chappell Roan.
The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA preseason game at Acrisure Arena on October 4, 2024. The Lakers played the Phoenix Suns in another NBA preseason game at Acrisure Arena two days later on October 6, 2024.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://acrisurearena.com/ Official Site]
{{AHL Arenas}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area Sports}}
Category:Ice hockey venues in California
Category:Sports venues in Riverside County, California
Category:Palm Springs, California
Category:Palm Desert, California