The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians plans to build a 10,000-seat arena in the heart of Palm Springs for ice hockey and live entertainment.
The new facility will be north of the tribe’s downtown casino and two blocks from the desert city’s main drag. The arena project will be developed on the tribal property north of the Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, generally between Amado Road on the south, Alejo Road on the north, Calle Encilia on the west, and Calle El Segundo on the east.
Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said in a phone interview that the partnership was more than a year in the works and came about because Oak View Group was looking for a home for the expansion team. The Coachella Valley’s large number of winter residents from Canada made it a natural fit.
Tim Leiweke, CEO and co-founder of Oak View Group, said the projected cost of the arena, training center and hockey team is $250 million. Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said the arena will be privately funded, exclusively by the tribe and Oak View Group.
Live Nation Entertainment also has signed on as a strategic partner with the project and will “supply the new arena with its large stable of top touring artists and premium live events,” according to a news release.
Grubbe said he doesn’t have details on what the arena would look like yet, and not to expect renderings any time soon. He did say that the arena would be state of the art and would fit in with the overall look of downtown Palm Springs.
Groundbreaking and construction is scheduled to begin in February 2020, according to the tribe. The arena is expected to open by fall 2021 in time for the hockey season.