After the approval of the Kraken to join the NHL, the Kraken's ownership group had narrowed down its AHL affiliate options to promoting theECHL'sIdaho Steelheads inBoise, Idaho, or a new expansion team inPalm 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.[3]
The Firebirds ranked second overall in their first regular season, behind only theCalgary Wranglers.[4] During that season'sCalder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds reached the Finals and lost in overtime of game seven to theHershey Bears.[5] They finished as runners-up again in their second season, achieving 103 points in the regular season[6] and reaching the Finals before losing to the Bears again, this time in overtime of game six.[7]
On December 4, 2018, theNational Hockey League (NHL)Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve a Seattle NHL expansion team, theSeattle Kraken, to begin play in the2021–22 season.[8] The new ownership group then began making plans for acquiring a minor league affiliate in theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). By early 2019, they had narrowed down their options to promoting theECHL'sIdaho Steelheads inBoise, Idaho, or a new expansion team in the area aroundPalm Springs, California. On June 26, it was reported the Seattle ownership group had chosen Palm Springs as the site for their AHL affiliate, as the Boise option would require the Steelheads' arena to be revamped.[3] The expansion franchise was approved by the AHL Board of Governors on September 30, with plans to begin play in the 2021–22 season.[9] Delays associated with the construction of an arena in the Palm Springs area caused the team's debut to be pushed back to the 2022–23 season. In the meantime, Seattle affiliated with theCharlotte Checkers for the2021–22 season, sharing the team with theFlorida Panthers.[10]
In November 2021, the new team revealed its name, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, as well as its logos and colors, at a ceremony held on the construction site of their new arena. Since the Kraken was a mythical creature, the organization chose another mythical creature for its affiliate.[11]
The Firebirds played their first game on October 16, 2022, a 6–5 win against theCalgary Wranglers, and they also won the rematch the next day.[16] During the first stretch of the season later that month, the Firebirds played their home games in theSeattle metropolitan area, playing four games against theAbbotsford Canucks and the Wranglers at theKraken Community Iceplex andClimate Pledge Arena inSeattle, as well as theAngel of the Winds Arena inEverett.[17] The Firebirds' first game at Acrisure Arena took place on December 18, a 4–3 win in front of a 10,087-people sellout crowd against theTucson Roadrunners, withCameron Hughes scoring the first ever home goal for the Firebirds, at the 8:49 mark in the first period.[18][19][20] From December 22, 2022, to January 26, 2023, the Firebirds achieved a fourteen-game points streak, the current franchise record.[21] The Firebirds finished the2022–23 season with 103 points, good for second place of the Pacific Division, behind only the Wranglers, who captured theMacgregor Kilpatrick Trophy. During the2023 Calder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds captured the Western Conference title and advanced to theCalder Cup Finals, where they faced off against theHershey Bears.[22] GoaltenderJoey Daccord recorded back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the series,[23] but the Firebirds fell short of the championship, losing in overtime of game seven.[24]
On March 23, 2024, the Firebirds clinched their place in the2023–24 playoffs following a 4–3shootout loss against theSan Diego Gulls. It was their second consecutive season with a playoff berth.[25] Eventually, the Firebirds won their first Pacific Division title, earning abye in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs following a 3–1 win on April 10, 2024, over theOntario Reign.[26] During the2024 Calder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds again captured the Western Conference title[27] and progressed to the Calder Cup Finals, where they once again faced the Hershey Bears. For the second straight season, the Firebirds fell short of the championship, losing in overtime of game six.[7]
After Palm Springs was chosen as the site of Seattle's AHL affiliate,Oak View Group (OVG) announced a partnership in June 2019 with theAgua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to build a 10,000-seat arena.[3] The multi-purpose venue would be built on land owned by the Agua Caliente Band adjacent to the Spa Resort Casino and was estimated to cost $250 million.[28][29] It would also have had an adjoining facility to serve as a year-round community gathering space as well as the training center for the AHL team.[30]
Groundbreaking and construction on the arena was expected to begin in February 2020, with completion by late 2021, but was put on hold due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and the resulting ban on large gatherings including concerts and sporting events.[31][32] By September 2020, OVG's negotiations with the tribe had come to a halt and the agreement was ended due to COVID-19 financial impacts on the tribe.[33]
On September 16, 2020, OVG and theH.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation announced they had chosen a new location for the arena in the middle of the Coachella Valley in unincorporated Thousand Palms, but it would not open until at least 2022.[34] The arena site is on Foundation land betweenInterstate 10 and the Foundation's Classic Club golf course; the land would be leased by OVG from the Foundation.[35] Groundbreaking on the project took place on June 2, 2021.[36] The arena hosted its first game on December 18, 2022, after a year of construction at an estimated cost of $290 million.[37][38]
During the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, the Firebirds established an American Hockey League record for total playoff attendance with 138,053 fans attending 16 postseason games.[39] On January 6, 2024, the AHL announced that the Firebirds and Acrisure Arena would host the 2025 AHL All-Star Game.[40]
The Firebirds announced their inaugural season uniforms on January 24, 2022, at thePalm Springs Air Museum. They were delivered by the Seattle Kraken, the jerseys themselves in treasure chests. The Firebirds have two main uniforms, one a dark blue color and the other white. Both uniforms feature the Firebirds logo in the center, as well as red, orange, and light-blue stripes around the sleeves, with red and light-blue stripes in the bottom.[41] The blue eye color of the Firebird logo is a tie-in to the blue used by the Kraken.[11] The Kraken logo adorns one shoulder.[11]
On November 8, 2023, the team revealed their "Red Alert"third jersey in red with orange, black and light blue trim. The regular logo is replaced with the team's secondary logo, which depicts a mountain range with apalm tree in front. The palm tree has nine fronds, one for each city in the Coachella Valley. During the 2022–23 season, the team wore the jersey on most Sunday home games.[42]
The Firebirds' mascot is an orange, feathered bird named Fuego (Spanish for fire).[43] Fuego was announced on August 4, 2022, before the start of the season. Fuego wears a Firebirds jersey, featuring the number 22 on the back. His first game appearance was on October 16.[44]
The team is owned by Oak View Group, the organization that also owns Climate Pledge Arena.[54] Tim Leiweke serves as their CEO.[55]Steve Fraser led as president of the Firebirds and Acrisure Arena from 2021 to 2023. His work established the team in the region, broke numerous AHL records for revenue and attendance and secured the 2025 AHL Allstar game.[56]
Current season
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Sports teams based inCalifornia
