With the recent opening of Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, locals and visitors alike are flocking to this new venue for Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey games, live concerts, and more. There’s almost always something to enjoy at the arena!
Before you go, make sure you know where to park, how to use rideshare, where to stay near Acrisure Arena, and your dining options. I’ve covered everything you need to know below–and if you still have questions about visiting the arena, drop a comment and I’ll answer as best as I can!
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Concerts and Sporting Events at Acrisure Arena
Acrisure Arena is home to year-round concerts and sporting events in Palm Springs. As the home arena of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Acrisure Arena hosts AHL games throughout hockey season. The Coachella Valley Firebirds are the feeder team for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, so you never know which surprise guests (Hello, Buoy!) might make an appearance at Acrisure.
Since opening in 2022, Acrisure Arena has also become a host to NHL pre-season games, as well as NBA pre-season games. Throughout the year, you’ll find other sports like rodeos, too!
Acrisure Arena Palm Springs Capacity
How many seats does Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs have? It depends on the event! You can see the two main Acrisure Arena seat maps here.
For hockey games, the arena holds up to 10,100 fans–and yes, the arena had sold out, at-capacity games during its inaugural Coachella Valley Firebirds season!
For concerts, the seating capacity goes up to 11,007. For concerts, the hockey ice rink is covered and becomes a standing GA area for most concerts.
Where to Park at Acrisure Arena
Acrisure Arena offers two parking options: the main lot, which is directly connected to the arena, and the offsite parking lot for overflow, located about two miles away from the arena at Xavier Prep High School.
The main parking lot can accommodate about 3,000 vehicles and is the most convenient option for visitors. Parking at the main lot means you can easily walk up to the arena when you arrive and, arguably even more importantly, walk right to your car after the event.
Parking for the main lot is more expensive than parking at the overflow lot at Xavier, but consider it the cost of convenience. One thing to keep in mind is that parking at the main lot means you’ll most likely be sitting in a bit of traffic when it comes time to leave, as there’s only one way in and out of the lot (onto Varner Road). It’s still the most convenient option for visitors to Acrisure Arena.
For events where the main parking lot is likely to sell out, overflow parking is opened up at Xavier Prep High School in Palm Desert. The lot is located off of Cook Street and is a dirt lot with security. While the Xavier lot is too far to walk to and from the arena, not to worry: there is free shuttle service that will take you between the Xavier parking lot and Acrisure Arena. While it’s usually pretty quick to hop on a shuttle and get to the arena for your event, keep in mind you’ll be lining up with everyone else who parked offsite after the event, so you may need to wait a few minutes before being able to board a shuttle back to Xavier.
The main parking lot and the Xavier offsite lot are the two options offered directly by Acrisure Arena for their events. But there is another convenient option you might want to consider, and that’s parking at Agua Caliente Casino and using their shuttle service. Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage offers a Park & Ride Arena Shuttle Service for $30, and this comes with $15 in free play or dining credit, too! The casino is about a 10-minute drive from Acrisure Arena, so this is a pretty good deal if you aren’t wanting to deal with parking at the arena.
Rideshare, Uber and Lyft at Acrisure Arena
Uber and Lyft have a designated rideshare area right at the entrance of Acrisure Arena. This can be very convenient for those not wanting to drive to and from the arena. The rideshare area is right outside the main entrance to the arena.
Keep in mind that rideshare demand is high after an event, and while there are definitely rideshare drivers available in Palm Springs, there aren’t quite as many as you’d find in a large city like Los Angeles or San Diego. So, be prepared for a bit of a wait. In my experience, it can be up to half an hour or so after some of the bigger events at Acrisure Arena. Your best bet is to either leave a little early to try to beat the crowds or settle in, take your time leaving, grab a hot dog on the way out, and wait for the crowds to lessen.
Having been to many events at Acrisure Arena and as a Palm Springs local, I also want to stress that there is nothing within walking distance of Acrisure Arena. It is also incredibly dark on Varner Road, which is the main road that Acrisure Arena is located on. This makes it quite dangerous to walk at night and again, you’re going to walk quite a ways to try to make it to another area for pick-up. If you’re not local to the desert, you might not realize just how dark it can be in town without street lights. We don’t have much light pollution here, so please understand when there aren’t street lights, it can be very difficult to see at night.
Also, the closest area you could try to get picked up near Acrisure Arena is off of Cook Street, and this is a good 30-minute, 2(ish)-mile walk. Late at night. In the dark. It is just not worth it.
If you’re going to Uber or Lyft to and from the arena, you will need to plan on being picked up at Acrisure. And yes, there are usually lines after an event, so please plan accordingly. I’m a fan of leaving a little early to beat the crowds, but if that’s not your cup of tea, grab a bacon-wrapped hot dog after the event (vendors are always set up in the parking lot after an event ends) and hang out for a bit while the Uber line dies down. Please do not try to walk anywhere from the arena, it is a long walk in the dark and not worth trying to save a few bucks.
Hotels Near Acrisure Arena
Which hotels are near Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs? You have plenty of options, depending on the type of hotel you’re looking for.
The closest hotels to Acrisure Arena are the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Palm Desert, the Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert, and Homewood Suites by Hilton Palm Desert. These are all about two miles from the venue on Cook Street and are the closest hotel options to the arena. All three are solid options for midscale, limited service hotels. You won’t find a ton of extra perks at these hotels, but they offer comfortable rooms and the convenience of just being a few minutes from the venue and the freeway.
If you’re looking for a resort experience with all the perks (think pools, spa treatments, onsite restaurants and the like), your best bet is the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert. The resort is less than a 10-minute drive from the arena and is the perfect option if you’re coming into town and looking to make a luxurious weekend getaway out of your trip.
Another close option is Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. This resort is convenient for both its location and its shuttle offerings. Agua Caliente Casino is just two freeway exits down from Acrisure Arena, and with both the casino and the arena located right near the freeway exits, this is an incredibly convenient option. But hold on, it gets even better: Agua Caliente Casino also offers shuttle packages for Acrisure Arena events, so you can leave your car at the casino and shuttle to and from a hockey game, concert, or other special event for just $30. This offer also gets you $15 in free play or dining credit!
Dining Options at Acrisure Arena
You’ll find plenty of tasty options for dining at Acrisure Arena, not to mention lots of local favorites that set up shop here, too!
For local flavors, get yourself a iced treat from E&E Pels, a local institution in Palm Springs. E&E Pels is known for their iconic yellow cups filled with orange, lemon, or pineapple Italian ices. Yes, they can mix flavors for you, and the orange/lemon combo is a classic. They can also add rum to these!
Other local restaurants that have set up shop in Acrisure Arena include CV BBQ (definitely get the mac and cheese topped with tri-tip), Fisherman’s Market and Grill (known for their fish and chips), and CV Nachos (I get these almost every time I go to a hockey game!).
There’s loads of other dining options, too, including Shaq’s Big Chicken (which you might recognize if you’ve sailed with Carnival Cruise Line), Pronto Pizza by celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis, and Tanner’s Prime Burgers. There’s also loads of grab-and-go options like hot dogs, tacos, and local favorite Brandini Toffee!
For drinks, you can try local brews from Coachella Valley Brewing Company or La Quinta Brewing. You can even enjoy a michelada made with Mix 38, a local chevela mix from Indio. There are also bars all around the arena, each featuring signature cocktails by the likes of Milagro Tequila, Garrison Brothers Whiskey, Michelob Ultra, and buzzbox.
Do you have any other questions about visiting Acrisure Arena? Leave a comment below and I’ll answer as best as I can!
Looking for more things to do in the desert? Don’t miss these top free things to do in Palm Springs!
Thanks for this guide! It’s so helpful!