In case you haven’t heard, Acrisure Arena opened in December bringing top-notch entertainment and exciting hockey to the greater Palm Springs area. I have attended two events at the arena, one action-packed Coachella Valley Firebirds game and one hilarious comedy show. In my humble opinion, the Acrisure Arena is a positive addition to our desert. Read on to find out why.

Acrisure Arena is an Amazing Venue

Cool, crisp air hits you as you walk through the doors of Acrisure Arena. The space feels intimate even though it is over 300,000 square feet and holds 11,000 seats. There is not a bad view in the house. Seats are comfortable with drink holders in front of you and spaced out so you don’t feel like you are sitting on your neighbor’s lap. There are plenty of restrooms with more women’s than men’s (someone finally got smart) plus 8 all-gender/family single occupancy bathrooms. The asethic is pleasing, and the staff is friendly and helpful.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds Light Up the Desert

Not knowing much about hockey myself, I enlisted a buddy from North Dakota to go with me to my first game. I found being a hockey novice didn’t matter. I had a blast! The game is fast moving, music pumps up the crowd between plays, and rooting on the home team brought on a sense of camaraderie. It is an outing the whole family can enjoy.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds are the newest expansion team of the American Hockey League (AHL) and are an official affiliate of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.  The goal of the AHL is to develop players and personnel for the National Hockey League.  The Firebirds will accomplish this by building an organization focusing on talent, entertainment, community and service.

Acrisure Arena Brings Top-Notch Entertainment to the Valley

My first experience at Acrisure Arena was the Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle show on December 14, 2022. This also happened to be the arena’s opening night. I laughed so hard and had a really good first impression of the venue overall. There were a few hiccups, like parking, but I will touch on that later.

The list of acts coming to Acrisure is impressive. For the family, the Harlem Globetrotters make a stop in February. Musical acts are diverse and include The Eagles, Harry Styles, Jimmy Buffet, Lizzo, Ana Gabriel, Reba McIntire, Shania Twain, Rauw Alejandro and Paramore to name just a few. Cirque du Soleil brings their dazzling show in the summer. That’s right, there will be shows in the summer too. This is not a seasonal locale. Expect top-notch entertainment throughout the year. Click here for more information.

Acrisure Arena Offers Plenty of Food and Drink Choices

Immediately after having your ticket scanned, step into the outdoor picnic patio for a variety of food and drink choices. Find Shaq’s Big Chicken, Pronto Pizza, Tanner’s Prime Burgers, Casa Escobar and Koko’s Bavarian to choose from. Cabana bars offer frozen drinks, liquor, beer and wine for that resort feel.

Inside, community staples such as Fisherman’s Market, CV BBQ, Brandini Toffee, E&E Pel’s Lemonade, CV Empanadas and CV Nachos provide grab and go selections. Continuing their support of local companies, Coachella Valley Brewing Company, La Quinta Brewing Company and Buzz Box Cocktails are all featured vendors.

Several bars dot the inside of the arena including two end-stage bars, one featuring tequila and one whiskey. Both provide fantastic views of the action. Prices are comparable to other entertainment venues.

You Can Skate Where the Coachella Valley Firebirds Practice

Underneath the main ice rink is the Berger Foundation Iceplex featuring a 250-spectator seat NHL ice rink with four locker rooms and two party areas. Yes, you can skate where the Firebirds train. Programs include Freestyle Figure Skating, CV Sk8 Academy, Sticks & Pucks and more. Learn to skate, play hockey or just have fun. Rent the space for a birthday party or corporate outing. Click here for a calendar of classes and events.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds Mascot

Fuego, the mascot of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, is colorful and energetic. See him rooting on his team and getting the crowd to their feet. Snap a quick picture with him as he travels through the arena. You might also see him out and about making special appearances around town. Click here to find out more about Fuego.

A Few Things To Know…

• Acrisure Arena’s address is 75702 Varner Rd., Palm Desert, CA 92271. They are located off of the I-10 Freeway between Cook St. and Washington.
• Parking isn’t cheap. A 20% discount applies if you purchase your parking online before the event. Still, prices start at roughly $25 for hockey games and around $32 for concerts. As has been well documented, it took over an hour to get into the parking lot on opening night for the Chris Rock/Dave Chapelle show, and many who had prepaid for parking found themselves at an overflow lot at a local high school. That said, parking for the hockey game was a breeze. I hear they have made some changes to the traffic flow for sold-out events, but my advice is to get their early to avoid any hassles.
• Dress for warmth! While it might be obvious that it is cold at a hockey game, it is still pretty chilly at the concerts too.
• Premium seating and VIP amenities are available, although I have not had the pleasure of checking them out. Click here for more information.

Let me know about your first experience at the Acrisure Arena in the comments section below.

Are you looking for more ways to get out of the house? Click here for my blog page with lots of interesting ideas and tips.