Coachella Valley Lakers to Open Home Season Nov. 6
The G League team opens its first home season at Acrisure Arena against the Salt Lake City Stars on Friday.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
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The Coachella Valley Lakers, formerly the South Bay Lakers, will play their home opener against the Salt Lake City Stars at Acrisure Arena on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7 p.m. The team will play 24 home games at the Palm Desert venue during the 2026-27 season.
Why it matters
The move brings the Lakers' G League affiliate to a venue that is more than $300 million in cost and has hosted major touring acts. It also replaces a smaller 750-seat home court the team previously used in South Bay.
The team's former South Bay home court seated 750, while Acrisure Arena's construction cost exceeded $300 million. The South Bay Lakers averaged 122.3 points per game last season, but the extraction does not say whether the new roster will match that pace.
The players
Acrisure Arena
The Palm Desert venue cost more than $300 million to build and has hosted acts including Paul McCartney, the Eagles, Shania Twain, Harry Styles and Olivia Rodrigo.
Coachella Valley Lakers
The G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, formerly known as the South Bay Lakers, now plays its home games in the Coachella Valley.
The details
The Lakers' G League team relocated to Acrisure Arena after the venue was selected over other Southern California options. Players expect fans to see a fast-paced style of basketball modeled on the Los Angeles Lakers.
Timeline
2023-25: Lakers played pre-season games at Acrisure Arena.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Home opener against the Salt Lake City Stars at 7 p.m.
2026-27 season: Team plays 24 home games at Acrisure Arena.
Sports Landscape
Acrisure Arena previously hosted the most-watched college basketball game of 2023, when Michigan State played Arizona there. The Lakers' move extends that venue's history of marquee basketball into a regular professional season.
Fans in the Coachella Valley can attend 24 home games this season at Acrisure Arena, with the opener tipping off Friday at 7 p.m. The schedule gives local followers a regular professional basketball calendar close to home.
The takeaway
The move gives Coachella Valley basketball fans a regular home schedule in a major arena. Following the team's home games this season is the most direct way to track its development.
What happens next
The Coachella Valley Lakers host the Salt Lake City Stars in their home opener at Acrisure Arena on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7 p.m., the first of 24 home games this season.
Further reading
For more on the local sports scene, explore Basketball coverage across the region.
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