KESQ station group to broadcast 10 select Coachella Valley Firebirds games live from Acrisure Arena
News Channel 3 is teaming up with the Coachella Valley Firebirds for a big announcement: we're working together to bring the excitement of the AHL team right into your homes.
As Broadcast Partner of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, News Channel 3's station group will be televising a series of ten select home games live as the team plays at Acrisure Arena.
In recent weeks, the Coachella Valley Firebirds have been busy at training camp, but when the puck drops on the ice for the first home game inside Acrisure Arena, you'll be able to watch it live on FOX 11 Palm Springs. We'll be bringing you that game live.
"It's incredibly exciting," said Evan Pivnick, Coachella Valley Firebirds Director of Broadcast & Communications. "It's a lot of excitement to start a team and to have the community rally around the team and I think KESQ is a great partner for us.
The team's match up against the Tuscon Roadrunners in December is just the beginning.
The station group is planning to bring you nine more televised Firebirds games, all live, and throughout the entire hockey season.
"Putting us in the forefront and getting us on television for those games is going to be exciting for everyone and a great way to see the Firebirds in action."
Evan Pivnick, Coachella Valley Firebirds Director of Broadcast & Communications
“We are thrilled to be the lead TV broadcast partner of the Coachella Valley Firebirds,” said Jerry Upham, General Manager of KESQ News Channel 3 and the other stations of the Gulf California Broadcast Company. “In addition to being the exclusive home for ten local games across our group of stations, we are excited to provide exclusive content that will keep fans updated on the team.”
Coachella Valley Firebirds Broadcast Schedule
| Date | Broadcast starts | Game time | Watch it on |
| Sunday, December 18 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | FOX 11 Palm Springs |
| Saturday, January 7 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | CW Palm Springs |
| Monday, January 16 | 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | FOX 11 Palm Springs |
| Friday, February 3 | 6:30 PM | 7:00 PM | KESQ ABC |
| Saturday, February 18 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | CW Palm Springs |
| Saturday, March 11 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | CW Palm Springs |
| Saturday, March 25 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | FOX 11 Palm Springs |
| Saturday, April 1 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | CW Palm Springs |
| Saturday, April 8 | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | FOX 11 Palm Springs |
| Sunday, April 9 | 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | CW Palm Springs |
"We’re fired up to cover these games and have a local professional team that we can call our own,” said Blake Arthur, News Channel 3 Sports Director.
The News Channel 3 sports team will be bringing you Coachella Valley Firebirds highlights and ongoing action across the entire season.
Next week, Sports Director Blake Arthur will be heading to Seattle, home of the Firebirds' partner NHL team, Seattle Kraken, for the AHL team's first "home" games. The Kraken are hosting the Firebirds while construction at Acrisure Arena is completed.
Coachella Valley Firebirds will host the Abbotsford Canucks for two games beginning Friday, October 21, at Kraken Community Iceplex, the practice complex for the Seattle Kraken. The second game will be on Sunday, October 23 at Climate Pledge Arena, the home of the Seattle Kraken.
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The following week, the Firebirds will play on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, against the Calgary Wranglers. Friday night’s game will be held at Angel Of The Winds Arena in Everett, WA, the home of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. The fourth and final game will take place at Kraken Community Iceplex.
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As broadcast partners, KESQ News Channel 3's group of stations will be your go-to place to watch Firebirds games on television. As the team's partner, we'll bring you exclusive content, including:
- Special programming
- Player profiles
- Digital coverage
MORE: Coachella Valley Firebirds full inaugural season schedule
The team's local media partnerships also include The Eagle radio.
“Alpha Media is honored and privileged to be chosen as the radio home for Firebirds hockey. We look forward to bringing Firebirds hockey to all hockey fans across the Coachella Valley on the Flagship station 106.9 The Eagle,” stated David Nola, General Sales Manager/National Sales Manager-Alpha Media Palm Springs.
Evan Pivnick, the voice of the Firebirds, will provide play-by-play duties for all games with his call broadcast across TV and radio outlets including AHLtv and the Firebirds team app. Gino Lamont and Grant Fuhr will handle pre-game, intermission, and post-game panel duties. In addition, Lamont will serve as the primary host for the Firebirds weekly show which will debut on the team’s YouTube channel and other digital platforms on October 20.
Hockey fans can check out AHLTV for all 72 games. All games will be available for streaming (with subscription) on AHLtv. Firebirds fans will have access to watch every away game, as an AHLtv subscription is included with full season membership packages. Audio for all games will be streamed through the Firebirds app.
