Don’t call them the South Bay Lakers, because the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA G League affiliate is now called the Coachella Valley Lakers.
The news came in an announcement on April 30, which also shared that the team will relocate to the Coachella Valley beginning with the 2026-27 season.
At the start of the 2026-27 NBA G-League season, the Coachella Valley Lakers will hold their home games Acrisure Arena, which seats 11,000, in Palm Desert.
The Acrisure Arena is known for hosting concerts, comedy events and hockey games, but they have hosted some basketball games. Notably, the Lakers hosted two NBA preseason games at Acrisure Arena in 2024.
“I have enjoyed a long-time relationship with Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Lon Rosen and Linda Rambis,” Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff said in a press release. “And I am beyond thrilled to have the Coachella Valley Lakers call OVG’s Acrisure Arena their home. Go Lakers.”
“Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization,” Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen added. “The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades, from the Showtime Lakers holding training camp in the 1980s to more recent preseason games.”
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Rosen continued: “We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment. Acrisure Arena is the perfect modern venue that provides an incredible fan-first experience, while ensuring players have the premium facilities and space they need on game day.”
What the Move Means for the Lakers’ G League and Fans
In general, the move to the Coachella Valley and rebranding don’t change a lot for the G League or its fans. The essence of the league remains the same, which is to hone new talent and evaluate players in a real-life setting. But the venue change does show a shift in the G League to standalone, easily accessible spots for teams. It makes it more convenient for some fans to get to these games, which matters for smaller matchups, like in the G League.
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Lucky for fans, the prices don’t appear to be changing. Season ticket deposits begin at $100 per account and are available via CoachellaValleyLakers.com. According to the team, season tickets are fully refundable at the time of seat selection.
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