IDM and The Skate Board Association have entered into a partnership with Cooperative LA, design firm Populous, Visit Big Bear and Aambé to advance a new sports and entertainment destination in Big Bear Lake. The team plans to deliver the IDM Arena alongside elite high-altitude training venues and a broader community-focused Sports and Entertainment District.
The multi-phase initiative is described as creating a permanent base for high-altitude training, competition, education and community programming. The partners position the project as a first-of-its-kind, year-round home for athletes and residents who have traditionally relied on temporary or ad hoc facilities for training and events.
Cooperative LA is slated to lead development of the IDM Arena and the associated high-altitude training facilities. Plans call for an indoor competition and multi-use arena that can host a range of events, along with high-performance training environments designed to serve professional and Olympic-level athletes.
The broader district program is expected to extend beyond elite sports. The concept includes youth development, community and education spaces, as well as community-accessible skate infrastructure aimed at supporting youth progression in action sports. These components are intended to anchor regular local use in addition to drawing visiting athletes.
Integrated retail and hospitality are planned as part of the overall district, together with annual cultural programming. The project vision also incorporates live-stream and multi-purpose media studios to support 24/7 content creation and programming, indicating that digital media and broadcast capabilities are a core element of the concept rather than an add-on.
Royce Campbell, co-founder of IDM and The Skate Board Association, noted that skate culture has historically relied on temporary locations in parking lots, warehouses and pop-up venues. He described the IDM Arena as an opportunity to establish a lasting home that aligns with the current scale, professionalism and cultural reach of the sport, with an eye toward future evolution.
Across its various components, the proposed IDM Arena and Sports and Entertainment District is framed as a long-term, purpose-built platform for high-altitude training, competition and community engagement in Big Bear Lake, combining sports, hospitality, retail and media uses within a single planned destination.
