Palm Springs AHL team arena

The Palm Springs AHL team arena is a planned multi-purpose 10,000-seat indoor arena to be built in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, California. Its primary use is to be as the home of the Palm Springs AHL team of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Palm Springs AHL team arena
LocationCoachella Valley
Coordinates33°46′45″N 116°20′20″W
OperatorOak View Group
CapacityHockey: 10,000
Construction
Broke ground2021 (planned)
OpenedFall 2022 (planned)
Tenants
Palm Springs AHL team (beginning 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.[1] The 10,000-seat arena was estimated to cost $250 million. OVG CEO Tim Leiweke used a study done by the SoCal Coyotes on the future of sports events and tourism in the Coachella Valley as proof of the viability of a multi-purpose venue in Palm Springs.[2]

The proposed arena was to be constructed on part of the Spa Resort Casino's parking lots and be owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians with the Oak View Group as the arena operator.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5][6] By September 2020, OVG's negotiations with the tribe had come to a halt and the agreement was ended.[7]

On September 16, 2020, the Oak View Group and H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation[8] 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.[9] The arena will be located on land in between Interstate 10 and the Classic Club golf course.[10]

References
  1. "NHL Seattle chooses Palm Springs as site for new AHL farm team". The Seattle Times. June 26, 2019.
  2. "Hockey in Palm Springs? NHL Insiders Confirm Rumors". NBC Palm Springs - News, Weather, Traffic, Breaking News. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  3. "Agua Caliente plans new downtown Palm Springs sports, entertainment arena. Projected cost for arena is $250M". Desert Sun. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  4. Reichard, Kevin (2019-06-28). "Surprise: Early Reaction to New Palm Springs Arena Includes Parking, Traffic Concerns". Arena Digest. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  5. Ulrich, Amanda (June 17, 2020). "Palm Springs arena plans on hold during coronavirus pandemic, CEO confirms". Desert Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  6. "Agua Caliente's Palm Springs arena plan stokes excitement — and fears of traffic, blocked views". Desert Sun. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  7. "Seattle Kraken delays AHL franchise by 1 year". ESPN. September 16, 2020.
  8. "Seattle Kraken AHL franchise to begin play in 2022". Cascadia Sports Network. September 16, 2020.
  9. "Seattle Kraken AHL affiliate will still play in Coachella Valley; won't start until 2022-23 season". The Desert Sun. September 16, 2020.
  10. "Planned Palm Springs arena is moving to mid-valley; Agua Caliente tribe no longer involved". Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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