I can't rally see a Hollywood producer and investor in an NHL team having much of a role in their minor league affiliate so I suspect Bruckheimer had little to do with this.
But the way Coachella Valley has been growing through the explosion of the music festival industry it sounds the like the arena will satisfy a need, and the AHL team can help fill in some dates. Still the AHL teams in California have dismal attendance, other than San Diego and Ontario which are bigger markets. Color me shocked if there is any grass roots youth hockey interest growing in Palm Springs but who knows.
Stockton averages about 3,500 people a game. You could draw that with an AHL team in Brooks for crying out loud.
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