How CVI is Turning Into Soccer’s Spring Training Hotspot

Soccer clubs from across North America are flocking to the same desert grounds where music fans dance to Coachella’s headline acts, as AEG transforms the Empire Polo Club into what they’re calling “spring training for soccer.”

Under the sunny skies of California’s Sonoran Desert, the entertainment giant has built something special over the past four years.

The Coachella Valley Invitational (CVI) has expanded from six teams in 2022 to this year’s impressive lineup of 14 MLS teams, six NWSL clubs, and three from the USL.

A Perfect Preseason Solution

Most North American soccer clubs face expensive international travel to find suitable preseason training locations during winter. The CVI offers a compelling alternative: warm weather, pristine grass fields, and high-quality competition in one picturesque setting.

“Compared to going to Portugal like we did last year, the travel is a lot better and we’re playing against teams that we need to figure out during the season,” said Real Salt Lake President John Kimball, whose team participated for the first time this year.

What makes the venue special is its setting – a sprawling 1,000 acres of natural grass dotted with palm trees and surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains, managed by the same AEG subsidiary behind the iconic Coachella music festival.

Having visited the grounds during December 2024’s MLS NEXT Fest, I can personally attest to the immaculate condition of the fields. The sheer scale of the property is impressive, with ample space to host multiple tournaments and numerous preseason opportunities simultaneously.

Building a Sustainable Business

The CVI is quickly approaching break-even status, combining revenue from team rental fees, ticket sales, and sponsorships. This year’s event (February 5-22) was on track to exceed last year’s attendance of 30,000.

For fans, the event offers rare up-close access to players in an intimate setting, plus VIP options with shaded seating and all-inclusive food and beverage service.

Teams in Attendance

MLS

• Austin FC
• Charlotte FC
• Chicago Fire
• LA Galaxy
• LAFC
• Minnesota United
• NYCFC
• Portland Timbers
• Real Salt Lake
• NY Red Bulls
• San Diego FC
• St. Louis City SC
• San Jose Earthquakes
• Sporting KC

NWSL

• Angel City
• Bay FC
• Houston Dash
• Portland Thorns
• San Diego Wave
• Seattle Reign

USL

• Las Vegas Lights
• Orange City SC
• Phoenix Rising

What’s Next?

Major League Soccer has taken notice and is having preliminary conversations with AEG about the future of preseason plans, potentially including an East Coast location to complement the California site.

“Everyone is coming back raving about the treatment, the facilities, the hotels, and fans are showing up more often, giving it a nice buzz,” said Nelson Rodriguez, MLS’s executive vice president of sporting product and competition.

With substantial room to grow on the property – currently using just “1/50th of the size,” according to AEG’s senior director of business development Kara Korber – the Coachella Valley Invitational appears poised to become as integral to soccer’s preseason as its musical namesake is to the festival calendar.