Coachella Valley Firebirds

The Coachella Valley Firebirds are a professional ice hockey expansion team based in Palm Desert, California, that plans to begin play in the 2022–23 American Hockey League (AHL) season. The team will be an owned-and-operated affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, which began play during the 2021–22 National Hockey League season. The team is building a new arena in the Coachella Valley.

Coachella Valley Firebirds
CityPalm Desert, California
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
Founded2022
Home arenaCoachella Valley Arena
ColorsDeep Sea Blue, Red Alert, Dragon Breath Orange, Ice Blue, Boundless Blue
         
Owner(s)Seattle Hockey Partners
(David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tod Leiweke)
MediaThe Desert Sun
AffiliatesSeattle Kraken (NHL)

History

The NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve Seattle's National Hockey League expansion team on December 4, 2018, to begin play in the 2021–22 season. The new ownership group then began making plans for acquiring a minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). By early 2019, they had narrowed it down to promoting the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads in Boise or a true expansion team in Palm Springs, California. On June 26, 2019, it was reported the Seattle ownership group had chosen Palm Springs as the site for Seattle's AHL affiliate.[1] A $250 million, 10,000-seat arena with an adjoining training facility was announced, to be built by Oak View Group (OVG) on land purchased from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in downtown Palm Springs.[2] The expansion franchise was approved by the AHL board of governors on September 30, 2019, with plans to begin play in the 2021–22 season.[3] However, the launch of the team was delayed as the approval and construction of the new arena was cancelled as negotiations with the tribe came to a halt.[4] In 2020, OVG announced that a new location in the Coachella Valley had been selected, but would not be completed until 2022 at the earliest.[5] Following approval by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, OVG announced a groundbreaking ceremony to take place at the site of the future Coachella Valley Arena in Palm Desert on June 2, 2021.[6] Due to the delay, Seattle affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers for the 2021–22 season, sharing the team with the Florida Panthers.[7]

On November 5, 2021, the team revealed its name, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, as well as its logos and colors at a ceremony next to their under-construction arena in Palm Desert.[8]

References
  1. Baker, Geoff (June 26, 2019). "NHL Seattle chooses Palm Springs as site for new AHL farm team". The Seattle Times.
  2. "Seattle NHL franchise to have AHL affiliate in Palm Springs". USA Today. Associated Press. June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  3. "AHL expanding to Palm Springs in 2021–22". American Hockey League. September 30, 2019.
  4. "Seattle Kraken delays AHL franchise by 1 year". ESPN. September 16, 2020.
  5. "Seattle Kraken AHL franchise to begin play in 2022". Cascadia Sports Network. September 16, 2020.
  6. "$250 million Coachella Valley arena groundbreaking will be June 2". Desert Sun. May 26, 2021.
  7. "CHECKERS ADD SEATTLE KRAKEN AS NHL AFFILIATE". Charlotte Checkers. June 28, 2021.
  8. "New Coachella Valley hockey team will be called Firebirds, with red, orange and black colors". Palm Springs Desert Sun. November 5, 2021.


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