The move represents the biggest venue change in franchise history. The Seals have called the aging Midway District arena home since entering the NLL for the 2018-19 season, when the building was still briefly known as Valley View Casino Center.
“Frontwave is a first-class, intimate venue that brings fans closer to the action than ever before,” Seals CEO Paul Speaker said in announcing the move. “Every seat feels like you are right on top of the floor, creating the kind of electric, high-energy environment that makes Seals games so special.”
The relocation comes at an interesting moment for the franchise. San Diego finished the 2025-26 regular season 8-10 but reached the playoffs and upset second-seeded Colorado in overtime before taking Toronto to a decisive third game in the NLL semifinals, matching the deepest postseason run in franchise history.
The Seals also experienced a notable attendance surge during their final season at Pechanga Arena. The team drew approximately 59,500 fans across its nine regular-season home games, an average of about 6,600 per game, up substantially from approximately 5,200 the previous season.
Frontwave Arena, located at 3475 Hero Drive in Oceanside, opened in September 2024 as North County's first major modern indoor sports and entertainment arena. The approximately 7,500-capacity venue already serves as home to the NBA G League's San Diego Clippers and professional indoor soccer's San Diego Sockers, among other sports tenants.
The move gives the Seals a considerably newer and more intimate building while shifting the team's geographic center from central San Diego to North County. Team officials specifically pointed to the large youth and high school lacrosse community in North San Diego County and the arena's potential to draw fans from southern Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Frontwave features 16 luxury suites, VIP viewing areas, lounges, an outdoor plaza and locally focused concessions. Its smaller footprint could also create a different atmosphere for a sport in which fans sit close to the boards and action.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the San Diego Seals and their fans to Frontwave Arena,” arena owner Phil Salvagio said. “The Seals are a tremendous addition to our growing sports lineup.”
The departure also comes as the future of the Seals' former home remains in flux. Pechanga Arena originally opened as the San Diego International Sports Arena in 1966 and is slated to eventually be replaced as part of the massive Midway Rising redevelopment. Current plans call for demolition of the existing arena and construction of a new approximately 16,000-seat entertainment center alongside 4,250 residences, parks, restaurants, shops and other development.
The Seals were originally announced as an NLL expansion franchise in 2017 under an ownership entity controlled by billionaire Alibaba co-founder and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai. The team played its inaugural San Diego home game in December 2018 and has developed into one of the league's more consistently successful franchises.
San Diego has posted a 70-50 regular-season record over its seven seasons of play, with the 2020 campaign cut short and the following season canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Seals have reached the postseason following every completed season and twice finished first in the league's former Western Conference.
Frontwave will now host the team's nine regular-season home games as part of the NLL's 18-game schedule. The Seals' roster includes stars Wes Berg, Tre LeClaire, Trevor Baptiste, Zach Currier and goaltender Chris Origlieri, with Patrick Merrill continuing as head coach and general manager.
The team is currently working with existing season-ticket holders to relocate their memberships to Frontwave Arena. New season-ticket deposits are also being accepted.
The complete 2026-27 NLL schedule is expected to be released in September. Individual ticket and parking prices have not yet been announced.
For more information, visit sealslax.com.
