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Part of the purpose for building the Acrisure Arena and Berger Foundation Iceplex was to capitalize on the area's existing notoriety as a destination for music and entertainment—but there wasn't an indoor venue that could accom- modate major acts. Acrisure Arena pro- vides perfect accommodations. But the desert isn't just a prime location for music and entertainment. It's also a major hub for hockey and ice sports. Berger Foundation Iceplex features a National Hockey League (NHL) ice rink with 250-spectator seating capacity. It also has four locker rooms, two party areas, and a mezzanine. The rink provides year-round access to ice that is open to the public, various programs, youth and adult leagues, and most notably—the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Firebirds compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as the affiliate of the NHL's newest and hottest franchise, the Seattle Kraken. But aside from the glitz and glamour of pro hockey and entertainment, Berger Foundation Iceplex provides a space for the community to fall in love with ice sports. A Community Asset Before the Berger Foundation Iceplex opened, local ice was hard to find. "There used to be two previous ice rinks in the community, but the last one shut down in 2020," Deason says. "So for the people here who love skating and ice hockey, they have had to travel 60 miles to skate at other rinks." So far, the community response has been overwhelmingly positive. "We have people calling constantly to book ice," Deason says. "Our ice is booked pretty much everyday from six in the morning until almost midnight." Some of the community's interest in ice is due to the creative ways the Berger Foundation and Coachella Valley Firebirds helped satisfy the demand for hockey before the new facility opened. Together they offered free street hockey for over 6,000 kids in the community. Many of these kids will transfer their interest from street hockey to ice hock- ey or other ice sports. In addition to being the official training center for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Berger Foundation Iceplex is home to several other programs, including Learn to Skate USA, Lil' Firebirds Learn to Play, youth and adult rec leagues, Silver Sticks (50+ league), and freestyle sessions. Other events and programs will include DJ Skates, broomball, shows, competitions, clinics, camps and tournaments. "WE HAVE PEOPLE CALLING CONSTANTLY TO BOOK ICE. OUR ICE IS BOOKED PRETTY MUCH EVERYDAY FROM SIX IN THE MORNING UNTIL ALMOST MIDNIGHT." USICERINKS.COM JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2023 / 17 p The AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds played their first home game at the brand-new Acrisure Arena on Saturday, Dec. 18.