Our desert has always attracted those who dream big. In early days, visionaries saw lush green golf courses replacing swaths of silted sand, large pools where water rarely ran, and sport courts for play under always-sunny skies.
These visionaries set the stage for an oasis paradise that charmed dignitaries and celebrities from near and far. In no time at all, our desert became a playground for the stars.
With this crowd came the expectation of first-class venues, clubs, sports and entertainment, escalating the enthusiasm, money and talent to make all those visions a reality.
Fun in the sun soon brought us The Eldorado Polo Club (1957), The Bob Hope Desert Classic celebrity golf tournament (1960), The Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle (1972) and the American Airlines Tennis Games (1976).
International accolades inspired growth. The “sport of kings,” spawned a second club, the Empire Polo Club (1987), which hosted the first HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) now the Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park. The Bob Hope Classic grew into The American Express PGA Tournament, the Dinah Shore venue became home to The Galleri Classic PGA TOUR Champions Golf Tournament, and the Tennis Games grew into the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
With all this outdoor activity, who could have guessed that our first franchise team would be indoors on ice? Or that the opportunity to see world-class figure skaters perform — or to become one —could happen without leaving our desert home?
It took visionaries with the same dreams and standards as our valley’s pioneering developers to build Acrisure Arena, home to the Berger Foundation Iceplex and our Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL hockey team. Like those before them, the privately-held Oak View Group could never have imagined the tremendous impact their vision would have on
our community.
History of ice in the desert
Many long-time residents have fond memories of the Ice Capades Chalet at Palm Desert Town Center (now The Shops). Unveiled in 1983, the recreational rink brought the community together for free skating and lessons and was the only rink between Riverside and Phoenix. “Reflecting on my childhood, the mall and that rink hold some of my happiest memories,” says local Michelle Steadman who enjoyed the center as a teen.
Olympian Dorothy Hamill, who has been coming to the desert since the late 1970s when dating her first husband Dean Paul (“Dino”) Martin, was a special guest at the opening along with Olympian JoJo Starbuck and “Mr. Debonair” Richard Dwyer of the Ice Follies and Ice Capades.
Hamill, who now lives in Indian Wells, enjoyed leisurely skating at the rink when not on the road. “I remember the sun would filter in from the second-floor windows above and it was always a warm and
relaxing feeling.”
She shared that when she and fellow Olympian Robin Cousins were filming “The Nutcracker: A Fantasy on Ice” that same year, the cast would rehearse at the Chalet late in the evening after crowds went home.
Other big names in skating have called the Coachella Valley home as well. World Figure Skating Hall of Fame Coach Frank Carroll, considered one of America’s greatest, lived here for decades before passing last year. National Hockey League Hall of Famer and five-time Stanley Cup champion Grant Fuhr is a long-time local and now broadcaster for the Firebirds.
However, the Firebirds were not the desert’s first hockey team. That honor goes to the Desert Lions formed by Gary Steven in 1998, a year before the Town Center rink closed. Left without a place to play, Steven mortgaged his home to build a small rink on Cathedral Canyon called the Ice Garden (2003). He later moved the rink to Dune Palms in La Quinta around 2009.
Then in 2011, Desert Ice Castle opened in Cathedral City and became the official home for figure skaters, hockey players and leisurely fans. Frank Carroll trained top skaters there and it became the new home for the Desert Lions until the facility closed its doors because of the pandemic in 2020.
Then in 2022, we were given the gift of Acrisure Arena, a top-notch entertainment venue designed for events and concerts, and home to our Firebirds. And if that wasn’t enough, they also gave us the Berger Foundation Iceplex inviting the community to lace up their skates and come together once again for leisure and sport on ice.
Firebirds fever quickly set in and games became a new social hub bringing all demographics together for a united purpose. At the Iceplex, skaters of all ages continue to take to the ice in what the Global Wellness Trends dubbed one of 2024’s fasting growing pastimes with rink reservations up 698 percent from the year before. The Iceplex is also the (hopefully forever) home of the Desert Lions, still going strong after 27 years.
On par with our valley’s international stature in sports, the Firebirds won the Western Conference Championship in their first two years. Acrisure hosted the AHL’s crown jewel, the Calder Cup finals, as well as the league’s All Star Classic (broadcast on the NHL Network) earlier this year.
Ice skating for mental and physical fitness
Simply standing on the ice in skates is a good workout. It takes balance, coordination, flexibility and strength — both challenging and rewarding. The sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving new skills boosts self-esteem while the focus required can take your mind off everything else and help reduce stress and anxiety.
“Skating has been a gift for me,” says Hamill. “I was a shy kid and not that great in school and when I was on the ice, I was free. I loved the time alone and the challenge of learning.” She recommends starting with baby steps and not to worry about your ankles or falling; skating schools and rinks have equipment to get your through those initial phases.
“No matter where you start, you will be supported,” she adds, as the skating community is very close-knit and inclusive. “We all started at the same place, and you never know where it will take you.”
“The Iceplex is committed to providing a fun, safe and healthy environment for all,” says Vice President and General Manager Leslie Deason. “Hockey and skating are lifetime sports and all ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate.”
Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, the rink offers daily public sessions, skate and hockey lessons for youth and adults, as well as U.S. Figure Skating levels for kids who want to compete, camps, clinics and more. Special events take place regularly including DJ skate nights, high school free skates, birthday parties and corporate events.
The Iceplex is the official training center of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and the home rink for both the Junior Firebirds travel hockey team and the Desert Figure Skating Club, whose goal is to support skaters of all levels while developing our future champions for national and international competition.
Ice skating entertainment
Firebirds hockey continues through April as our hometown team works to defend their Western Conference title. Theme nights include $5 Beer Night every Wednesday in March and April;
St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 15; Fuego’s Birthday on March 19; KGAY Night at The Firebirds on April 9; Kraken Night Bobblehead on April 12; Autism Awareness Night on April 13 and Fan Appreciation on April 18.
On March 23, Ice Dance International (IDI) presents SOAR!, a theatrical journey of artistry and athleticism showcasing the magic of skating through mesmerizing ensemble performances. The cast of world-class figure skaters includes current Olympic Ice Dance Champion Gabriella Papadakis, two-time U.S. Champion Alissa Czisny, National Champion Rohene Ward, and Junior World Champion Ice Dancers Oona and Gage Brown. IDI was founded by ballet great Edward Villella and skating icon Dick Button and their Iceplex show will be hosted by Dorothy Hamill. General admission tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $75, which includes a meet and greet with the cast after the show.
Cirque du Soleil is also coming to Acrisure Arena with Crystal, their acrobatic spectacular on ice, March 28 through 30. The show takes audiences on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery in a visually stunning blend of ice dancing, aerial gymnastics, juggling and trick skating. Tickets are between $72 and $174.
For more information, visit www.acrisurearena.com and www.bergerfoundationiceplex.com.
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