Firm Qualifications for Regional Indoor Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment Facility Feasibility Study Services

The City of Palm Desert is requesting information from qualified firms and multidisciplinary teams with feasibility study expertise for a regional indoor sports, recreation, and entertainment facility, with responses due October 14, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

The City is evaluating development of an approximately 18 to 20-acre facility on former Redevelopment Agency property at the northeast corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue, integrated within a larger 170-acre planned development area that includes up to 2,200 multifamily residential units, approximately 12 acres of commercial and retail uses, 24.5 acres of open space, approximately 28 acres of lighted regional sports fields, and approximately 3 acres of public facility uses. The City Council directed staff to evaluate capital costs, operating projections, funding strategies, fiscal impacts, and potential return on investment, with a related Specific Plan update anticipated by March 2027.

Respondents should demonstrate qualifications and experience in market and demand analysis, financial feasibility and modeling, facility planning and operations, sports tourism and recreation programming, economic and fiscal impact analysis, public-private partnerships, development and financing structures, funding strategies, regional partnerships, and strategic implementation planning. The RFI seeks information from feasibility consultants, developers, facility operators, investors, financing partners, sports and entertainment organizations, and other potential private-sector partners. Preference is given to examples involving public agencies and projects of comparable scale and complexity.

All response preparation costs are the responsibility of the respondent; no pricing or fee proposals should be included unless specifically requested. The City has not established a specific project delivery model and may use received information to evaluate potential approaches and determine whether to pursue subsequent procurement or partnership processes. This RFI does not obligate the City to proceed with the project or enter into any agreement with respondents. Questions are due September 30, 2026. Responses must be submitted electronically through the City's OpenGov Procurement portal.