Coachella Valley Lakers to Call Acrisure Arena Home

Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California, is adding another attraction to the venue with today’s news that the Los Angeles Lakers are relocating their NBA G League team to play their home games at Acrisure Arena. The team will be renamed the Coachella Valley Lakers.

The 11,000+ capacity Oak View Group arena, which opened in December 2022, is home of the American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, the Coachella Valley Firebirds along with the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Coachella Valley Lakers. Upcoming concerts at the venue include Maná, The Pussycat Dolls, Shakira, Bob Dylan, Dancing with the Stars Con 2026 and Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire.

“I have enjoyed a long-time relationship with Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Lon Rosen and Linda Rambis. And I am beyond thrilled to have the Coachella Valley Lakers call OVG’s Acrisure Arena their home. Go Lakers,” said Irving Azoff, Senior Partner at Oak View Group (Pollstar’s parent company).

Los Angeles Lakers President of Business Operations Lon Rosen added, “Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization. The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades, from the Showtime Lakers holding training camp in the 1980s to more recent preseason games. We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment. Acrisure Arena is the perfect modern venue that provides an incredible fan-first experience, while ensuring players have the premium facilities and space they need on game day.”

Today’s announcement notes that over the past two decades the Lakers G League team has developed the game’s next generation of professional athletes including current Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, having recorded 60 NBA call-ups across 38 players. Last season, the team posted a 26-10 regular-season record, securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Season ticket deposits for the Coachella Valley Lakers open to the public starting today and are available online at coachellavalleylakers.com , starting at $100 per account. The deposits are fully refundable at the time of seat selection.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Los Angeles Lakers G League affiliate to Coachella Valley,” said Oak View Group Chief Business Officer Amy Latimer. “The addition of a G League franchise in the Coachella Valley builds on the diverse event offerings at Acrisure Arena, adding another layer of excitement and solidifying the venue as a premier destination for sports and entertainment in the region. We appreciate all partners whose collaboration and dedication made this possible.”

“Opportunities like this are simply not possible without the support and assistance of incredible partners,” said Acrisure Arena Senior Vice President John Page. “We would like to recognize the efforts put forth by Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and Visit Greater Palm Springs, who have worked in conjunction with Oak View Group, the Lakers organization and many others in order to welcome the G League to our town. We look forward to expanding upon our growing connection to the sports community with the addition of this storied franchise.”

The Lakers G League team were initially known as the Los Angeles D-Fenders when they originated in 2006, playing at STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles before moving to the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. The team was rebranded as the South Bay Lakers in 2017 as they played at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. The announcement adds that the Lakers were the first NBA team to own and operate their affiliate in the developmental league.

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/04/30/coachella-valley-lakers-to-debut-at-acrisure-arena/)._