Acrisure Arena has a loud autumn ahead. The Coachella Valley Firebirds drop the puck on their fifth season on Friday, October 2, 2026, against the Ontario Reign, and this year they share the building with a brand-new tenant: the Coachella Valley Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers' G League team, which relocated to the desert and tips off its first season here. Two professional teams under one roof, in a corner of Thousand Palms that barely existed on the map five years ago.
Here is what is coming to the arena this fall, where the building sits, and why this pocket of the valley keeps drawing attention.
When does the Coachella Valley Firebirds season start?
The Firebirds open at home on Friday, October 2, 2026, against the Ontario Reign. It is the franchise's fifth season, and the team is leaning into the milestone with a full calendar of theme nights. The American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Seattle Kraken arrived in 2022 and turned out to be one of the desert's genuine success stories, selling out its first game and setting an AHL playoff attendance record in 2023 with more than 138,000 fans across a single postseason.
The promotional schedule is where the personality shows. Returning favorites include the Teddy Bear Toss, Pride Night, and a Día de los Muertos celebration, and this season adds new ones like Route 66 Night, Canadian Night, and a tongue-in-cheek Margarita Valley night. Games run through the fall and winter, which makes a Firebirds night one of the easier ways to spend a cool desert evening once the summer heat finally lets go.
Who are the Coachella Valley Lakers?
The Coachella Valley Lakers are the newest addition to the building. The Los Angeles Lakers moved their G League affiliate, formerly the South Bay Lakers, to the desert and rebranded it, with the team set to debut at Acrisure Arena during the 2026 season. For basketball fans, it means NBA-affiliated talent playing a short drive from home, and for the arena it means a second professional team filling dates through the winter. The purple and gold in the Coachella Valley is a real shift, and it is part of why the Firebirds added a Coachella Valley Lakers Night to their own calendar.
What else happens at Acrisure Arena?
The arena was built for more than sports. Since opening in December 2022 with a night of comedy from Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, it has become the valley's main stage for touring acts, hosting shows from artists like Olivia Rodrigo and drawing crowds that used to have to drive to Los Angeles or Palm Springs' smaller venues. With 11,000 seats and 20 suites, it sits in the sweet spot between an intimate theater and a big-city arena, which is why so many fall and winter tours now put a desert date on the calendar. Checking the arena's schedule before a weekend visit has become a habit for a lot of valley residents.
Where is Acrisure Arena, and how do you get there?
The arena sits in unincorporated Thousand Palms, in Riverside County, tucked between Interstate 10 and the Classic Club golf course. That location is the quiet genius of the place. It is roughly central to the whole valley, which puts it within a 20 to 30 minute drive of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and Indio, and the I-10 frontage makes it straightforward to reach from either end of the valley or from out of town. Parking is on site, and the building was designed so that getting in and out on a sold-out night does not eat your evening.
What the arena means for Thousand Palms and the central valley
Thousand Palms has long been one of the valley's more overlooked addresses, central and affordable, close to the Classic Club and the I-10 corridor. A $290 million arena and two professional teams change that conversation. Buyers who want to be near the action without paying Palm Springs or Indian Wells prices are taking a closer look at the central valley, and the communities around the arena and the Classic Club are part of that story. A major venue does for a neighborhood what a good restaurant does for a block. It gives people a reason to be there.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Coachella Valley Firebirds home opener in 2026?
The Firebirds open their fifth season at home on Friday, October 2, 2026, against the Ontario Reign at Acrisure Arena. The regular season runs through the fall and winter.
Where is Acrisure Arena located?
Acrisure Arena is in unincorporated Thousand Palms, in Riverside County, between Interstate 10 and the Classic Club golf course. It is roughly central to the Coachella Valley and a short drive from Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and La Quinta.
Who are the Coachella Valley Lakers?
They are the Los Angeles Lakers' G League team, previously the South Bay Lakers, which relocated to the desert and rebranded as the Coachella Valley Lakers. The team is set to debut at Acrisure Arena during the 2026 season.
Does Acrisure Arena host concerts too?
Yes. The 11,000-seat arena opened in December 2022 and regularly hosts major touring concerts and comedy in addition to Firebirds hockey and, now, Coachella Valley Lakers basketball. Check the arena's official schedule for current dates.
How far is the arena from the rest of the valley?
Because it sits on the I-10 near the center of the valley, the arena is roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive from Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and Indio.
A valley that keeps getting more to do
The desert has always had golf, sun, and design. It now has professional hockey, an NBA-affiliated basketball team, and a real concert calendar, all in one building near the middle of the valley. The Stanton Williams Group lives and works across the Coachella Valley every day, and we are glad to help clients find the right home near the golf, the arena, or wherever their version of the good life happens to be. If the central valley has caught your eye, reach out to the team or browse current listings across the Coachella Valley.
Written by Norman Williams and Jacqulyn Stanton of The Stanton Williams Group at Compass, your local authority on Coachella Valley luxury real estate.
