Firebirds to burn bright at Acrisure Arena

Article posted by Coliseum, August 23^rd, 2022

Image: Acrisure Arena & Oak View Group

Acrisure Arena (US), the newest world-class venue designed specifically for the Coachella Valley in California, and the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the 32^nd American Hockey League (AHL) team debuting in Fall 2022 and the affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL) team Seattle Kraken, held a special ceremony on August 12^th to unveil the installation of its very first seats.

‘Acrisure Arena’ stated that the Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor, V. Manuel Perez, was honored as the arena’s first ‘sitter’ and helped affix the final bolts of the first of 11,000+ seats at the Arena. The first two seats were placed in Section 120, Row M, Seats 9 and 10.

The Acrisure Arena is a multipurpose 10,000-seat indoor arena under construction in the unincorporated community of Thousand Palms in Riverside County, California’s Coachella Valley (US). The stadium is scheduled to open its doors in December 2022. It will be run by the American entertainment giant Oak View Group (OVG).

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The Coachella Valley Firebirds are a professional ice hockey expansion team based in Palm Desert, California (US), which will begin play in the 2022-2023 American Hockey League (AHL) seasons. The team will be an owned-and-operated affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, which began play during the 2021-2022 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons.

‘Acrisure Arena’ further stated that the event coincided with the pouring of the Arena’s concrete ice floor. Within six hours early on the morning of August 12^th, the future hockey rink for the Coachella Valley Firebirds was transformed. A special crew was called in to pour what’s called a super flat floor. To meet strict AHL standards, the floor is then surveyed to make sure it’s exactly where it needs to be before the 28-day curing process (the process to control moisture loss during hydration of cement) begins. To complete Acrisure Arena’s floor took 420+ yards of concrete from over 15 concrete trucks.

Images from the event can be viewed here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/8QNeDDAmkR

Commented Perez, “Today (August 12^th) represents a very significant construction milestone at the Acrisure Arena. It’s an honor to help build and be the very first person to sit and take in the view at the Acrisure Arena. I know I speak on behalf of everyone in Riverside County when I say how truly excited we are to have a world class music and sports venue opening this December in the heart of Coachella Valley.”

Said John Bolton, Senior Vice-President, Oak View Group and General Manager, Acrisure Arena, “It’s one down and only 10,000+ seats to go. It’s a definitely a day of firsts. Our first seat, first professional hockey rink, first day of school for Coachella Valley kids, first day we can imagine this venue filled with thousands of people to experience their bucket-list concerts and family shows. Tickets for concerts and family events will be announced in September. We kick off this December 15^th with over 100+ nights of amazing entertainment annually.”

Added Steve Fraser, President of Acrisure Arena and the Coachella Valley Firebirds, “Firebirds fans, these two seats are of the few remaining for hockey season tickets. That means you could be sitting right here cheering on the Firebirds when they play against their peer team Tucson Roadrunners at our first home game on December 18^th.”

The Acrisure Arena will open for the 2022-2023 AHL seasons this Fall and will host more than 150 sports and live entertainment events annually.

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