The Coachella Valley Firebirds delivered a nail-biting victory in Game 1 of their Calder Cup Playoff series against the Calgary Wranglers, edging out a win in triple overtime. The final goal — a gritty, net-front deflection by Mitchell Stephens — wrapped up a night that didn’t end until nearly midnight at Acrisure Arena.
But while the on-ice drama was unforgettable, many were focused on something else — the thousands of empty seats.
Tim O'Brien joined Fred Roggin on the NBC Palm Springs Sports Desk to break it all down. The Firebirds had a commanding lead heading into the third period, only to see it evaporate in the final seconds of regulation. After nearly two hours of extra hockey, the Birds managed to pull it out — but at a steep physical cost.
“You emptied the tank and then some,” said Roggin. “If they had lost that game, that might’ve been it.”
O'Brien, who was there until nearly 2 a.m., noted the mental and physical toll on the players but praised their resilience. “It wasn’t pretty, but they dug deep and found a way.”
Still, the conversation shifted quickly to the crowd — or lack thereof.
Roggin was candid, acknowledging that NBC Palm Springs is a media partner of the team and that his family are season ticket holders. “Looking around the arena and seeing the empty seats last night was shocking — borderline embarrassing,” he said.
Reasons for the low turnout are likely layered: minimal notice about the game time, roster instability due to the Firebirds' affiliate status with Seattle, and high prices for tickets, food, and parking. Some fans may have also left the Valley for the summer, a seasonal reality in the Coachella region.
The Firebirds play Game 2 this Saturday at 6 p.m. at Acrisure Arena. If attendance bounces back, the concerns may blow over. If not, Roggin suggested the team may need to revisit its approach.
“There’s too much passion in this community for hockey for that many empty seats to go unnoticed.”
Catch continued playoff coverage and community reaction at NBCPalmSprings.com.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
April 23, 2025
