The Lakers are Coming to Town: What the "Coachella Valley Lakers" Mean for Our Desert

If you haven't heard the news, yesterday it was announced that the South Bay Lakers are officially moving to the Coachella Valley starting in the 2026-27 season. 🏀 They’ll be playing at Acrisure Arena under their new name: the Coachella Valley Lakers.

Coachella Valley Lakers coming in the 2026-27 season

As someone who lives and works here in the desert, this feels like a major milestone. Most of the headlines I’ve seen just give you the "what"—the team is moving from El Segundo to here. But I think the "why" and the "what's next" are a lot more interesting for those of us watching our community grow.

Why leave the South Bay? For years, the team has played at the UCLA Health Training Center. It’s a great practice facility, but it only holds about 750 people. By moving to Acrisure, they’re jumping into an 11,000-seat arena. The Lakers organization saw what happened with the Firebirds—how this Valley shows up and sells out for sports—and they realized they were sitting on a goldmine of fans out here. It’s a move that takes them from a small-town gym feel to a "big league" atmosphere every night.

It's more than just a "Minor League" If you aren't a die-hard NBA fan, you might think the G League is just for benchwarmers, but it’s actually where some of the most exciting talent in the game gets polished. We’re going to see guys who are literally one phone call away from playing alongside LeBron James.

Just look at a Austin Reaves. He spent time in the G League proving he belonged, and now he’s a cornerstone for the main Lakers roster. Same for Alex Caruso, who became a championship hero after cutting his teeth in the minors. When you go to these games at Acrisure, you aren’t just watching a game; you’re seeing the "before" story of future NBA stars.

Austin Reaves 2026

I always like to look at things through the lens of our local real estate market, and I see this as a huge win for the "year-round" Coachella Valley residents.

For a long time, the valley lived and died by the "season." But between the Firebirds, the concerts at Acrisure, and now the Lakers, we are becoming a 12-month entertainment hub. That shift is massive. When a region has professional sports and year-round energy, it drives up demand for everything from short-term rentals to long-term residency.

I, for one, am ready for tip-off, but it makes me wonder: are we finally seeing the permanent transition from a "resort town" to a "major destination"?