#9 Palm Springs, Calif.
▶ RÉSUMÉ: The construction of the $250 million Acrisure Arena, developed by Oak View Group, will ensure that more year-round events can be held in the Coachella Valley, which, historically, has been a seasonal market owing to the intense summer heat. It thrives in the winter and spring, hosting events such as The American Express PGA Tour stop and the BNP Paribas Open in tennis. Last year’s USA Triathlon Military and First Responders National Championships were held at Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park in nearby La Quinta.
The region also hosts major sports industry functions, like last year’s
VenuesNow Conference, as well as a Stadium Managers Association annual seminar. Getting to the Coachella Valley for these events, or any of the major music festivals held there, should get easier with a billion-dollar passenger rail project from Los Angeles in the works and expansion of the Palm Springs airport.
▶ DEVELOPMENT: Acrisure Arena opened in late 2022, giving the Coachella Valley its first large entertainment and sporting event indoor venue. Indian Wells Tennis Garden has frequently been renovated and upgraded by owner Larry Ellison; it’s widely regarded as one of the best pro tennis events in the world, thanks in large part to the facilities and the setting.
▶ FUNDING FOR THE TOURISM BUREAU: City, county, and private sources, as well as the Visit Greater Palm Springs’ own revenue-generation efforts.
▶ STAY AND PLAY: Take a tour of Palm Springs’ mid-century modern homes, including the Dinah Shore Estate. The sprawling home was built for the longtime TV star and host who was an early and ardent backer of the LPGA through her Colgate Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle tournament, first held in 1972 and an LPGA major now known as the Chevron Championship. (Leonardo DiCaprio now owns the home.)