Why I Won't Be at LA Kings Hockey Games Again This Season
A fellow hockey fan just wrote to me to ask me if I will be going to any Los Angeles Kings hockey games this coming season.
My next in-person appearance at a Kings game will be when they finally (for the first time since before the 9/11 attacks) make the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After 15 years of ownership and eight years with just one first round playoff appearance (and exit) to show for it, imagine my reaction when Kings owner Anschutz Entertianment Group (AEG) presented me with a 54% season ticket increase for my ice level seats before last season. If the Kings just wanted to be a team that treads water and merely acts as some sort of boozy social club with a never improving team but they had consistent prices, I would still be going. But a 54% increase on top of $12 beers to see a team that has made the National Hockey League Finals once in 43 seasons is a slap in the face, especially after the radio promotion of two seasons ago in which the Kings sold all unsold seats for $11.50 REGARDLESS OF LOCATION. I found myself sitting in $183 seats within breathing distance of people who paid $11.50. Who is the fool here?
Some of my best friends in the world are at Kings hockey games, but I can no longer support the way that this team is operated. I mean, in 15 years, the only top-of-the-line free agent Kings owner AEG could ever see fit to sign was David Beckham? Doesn't that tell you something? Thousands of empty seats at Los Angeles Galaxy MLS games and they go out and sign David Beckham to a record-shattering deal. Enough is enough. I have learned my lesson.
I am still and will always be a fan, but, once again this season, I will crank up the HDTV and listen to Hall-of Fame play-by-play man Bob Miller announce the latest "4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, 4 popcorns" and "2-for-1" schemes while I scan my screen for empty seats to see if others have figured out what I have: that the Kings will never improve until most of us stop coming. It's tough love, but after 15 years of the current management, it's our only hope.
The Kings are Moneyball on ice: the Oakland A's of hockey. Always with tons of great young players who, once they reach free agency, end up in the playoffs with other teams (Michael Cammalleri, Joe Corvo, etc.) and who are replaced with tons of NEW great prospects who Kings fans will never see in the playoffs. I am personally looking forward to following Alexander Frolov's breakthrough first 40-goal season this year...with the New York Rangers.
In the meantime, here in Southern California, I will watch my favorite hockey team every night on HDTV and I will hope against hope that the Kings pull off a miracle and get to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. At that time, I will pay through the nose if necessary (thank you StubHub) to sit in the front row and finally see them accomplish something great. In whatever year that is.
Well Done
Teams have to be pressured to win or most of the time they won't. I agree with your move, but unless the Kings get another owner Las Vegas will get a Stanley Cup winner first.
You don't have to own season tickets..
You don't have to own season tickets to go to games. I dumped my season seats years ago and I told my rep flat out that I can get the tickets for the same price or cheaper on CL, ebay, StubHub or message boards. What is the point to committing to all 41 if that is the case? I still go to 10 games a year and I have yet to pay face value except for playoff tickets.
The suits in charge will give you the spiel about how Kings tickets are on average lower than a majority of the league which is true. Regardless, you have to vote with your wallet as you say.
At any rate, not quite a good prediction on Frolov. He went back to Russia with love after a dismal season in NY. Your comments about losing tons of great talent isn't exactly accurate anymore. Most of the key pieces to the team are locked up long term. That doesn't deviate from your core point about the futile history of the organization but I fully believed they have turned the corner. You might be back in the spring of 2012. :)
STUBHUB
I agree with you Tom. Let the pocketbook send a message to the owners. Fuck em!
I've been buying my tix on STUBHUB. Great seats for low prices.
Also try KINGS Ticket exchange by Ticketmaster.
https://teamexchange.ticketmaster.com/html/eventlist.htmI?l=EN&team=kings
LA Kings
Especially now with the loss of Anze Kopitar. What a crappy deal. Put my fantasy hockey team into a tailspin as well. Oh, if you think being a Kings fan is a painful way of witnessing a training program for future superstars on other teams, try being a Pittsburgh Pirates fan...... 18 years since a playoff appearance period. Yet, top 3 or 4 in profits every year. Sickening. I'm just glad I've had the Penguins to watch for the last 15 years.
Good day all
Kings Hockey
I know what you're saying but they are definitely improving with Luc Robataille in management
Kings Support
situation is similar to Toronto's. Since all the games are sold out and most the seats are sold as season tickets. People who have them don't want to give up. When they are not at games they sell the seat via a broker. Therefore it is possible, with the right seats, to make a profit.. If everyone stops going to games and buying merchandise, owners will be forced to come up with a better product on the ice.
L A Kings
That's how we in Toronto feel. We love hockey, the ownership doesnt care enough to put a decent product on the ice (or the court for that matter)
Toronto has suffered for decades!
Brian
Have you considered Anaheim Ducks hockey?
Seriously. The Honda Center is a great venue. Lots of great restaurants and bars closeby. Great looking chicks. And best of all, and you'll have to admit it, Ducks play superior hockey than the Kings.
uhhhh.....
youre kidding, right? superior? maybe corey fairy's whining skills are but thats about it. and honda center blows! have u ever been there? and dont even get me started on their sad pathetic excuse for a play by play and color commentator duo! Getzlaugh could two hand a guy in the head and somehow the poor guy he hits "got away with one there..."
please make your comment about your cup and then return to the crap hole that in anaheim.
That Cup
that you, as a King fan, covet so much? You will never see it in LA. Never!
Ducks play-by-play and color commentators?
Have you HEARD Jim Fox talk about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for minutes at a time? If he has Asperger Syndrome, or has had severe head trauma then I apologize - but Christ I hate hearing him talk.
After moving to LA in 2000 I
After moving to LA in 2000 I tried to adopt the Kings as my team only to be consistently frustrated with AEG's ownership. They only want to make money, they don't give a F*CK about winning hockey games!!! As long as people support the Kings, they'll never get any better.
I gave up on the Kings back in 2006 (I want those six years of my life back), and adopted the Ducks. Glad I did too, because they dropped the "mighty", changed their uniforms and wound up winning the Stanley Cup a year later!
F THE KINGS TOM... GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
LA transplant in Tampa
I’ve been to all three Tampa Lightning home games and last night despite a 4-2 start and a thrilling 5-4 win (4/5 on power plays) over Dallas on Tues less than 8,000 fans showed up last night. I’m one of those guys who bought a season seat for $238 in the top row of the arena and then moves down during the second quarter and sits in near empty seats 20 rows up from the ice. BTW, our beers only cost $11.
Vancouver fans feeling pinch as well
Tom, great insight and reasoning, here in Vancouver our ticket price have once again gone up. Presently it is cheaper fro me to fly from Victoria (Vancouver Island) to LAX and attend an Anhiem game stay the night than to fly to Vancouver and stay the night. Our team is not much better than last years version. I'm glads to have attended your listener party when you were on the air here in Vancouver. All the best to you!
The Kings
If they make the second round of the playoffs it will be another miracle on ice. As Tom stated, why should they spend money, when they fill out the stadium without the high profile stars.
$12 Beers!
I don't much about hockey, but I do know about $12 beers .... fuck that, lol
I gave up my Los Angeles
I gave up my Los Angeles Kings Season Tickets after the 79/80 season, and gave up my personalized "GO KINGZ" license plates. I got tired of supporting a losing team. As they say, some things never change.
UMMMM
Fox Sports West-Prime ticket
works oh so well for me ((and you know!~
Management stinks
Dad, Lombardi did the same thing in San Jose. Hardly ever attempted to make some big deals. Granted, trading for Selanee, Ricci, and Nolan were good moves under his watch, they never made any truly big acquisitions. However, with Silicon Valley Sports Entertainment at the helm (thanks Jamison), the Sharks are consistenly competitive and always get to the second round. It's just getting past the second round that was a problem, until this year. Unfortunately, the Sharks just had to play the Blackwaks whom everyone predicted to win the cup after their breakout season last year. But hey, getting Niemi and Nittyaki for $4 million a season combined is a steal compared to the $6 million they were paying Nabokov. I say check out a Sharks game the next time you're in the Bay Area. The Shark Tank is always a fun atmosphere and plenty of good bars and restaurants nearby. Heck, you could even squeeze it in the next time you head to Napa to taste some fine wine.
KINGS
Well welcome to the high cost of sports. Athletes are making so much the fans will be penalized for it with increased ticket prices and concessions.
This is not my reason for writing though. I am not a Kings fan but a great hockey fan. i have watched many Kings games on many networks and i know the color commentator Jim Fox is an ex player for the Kings and is probably beloved in LA Kings area but...if i'm wrong my ears are lying. This guy never shuts up. He goes beyond what the color commentator is supposed to. Many times he interrupts the broadcaster to continue with his opinion. Please someone shut this guy up. I cannot stand listening to him I turn off the sound when I watch the Kings games. He is not the man as he thinks he is. I wonder if the actual broadcaster which is very good, ever thinks please shut the f$@# up JIm. Because I know i do.
Jim Fox
I don't know about Jim Fox- I'm from Toronto- You should hear Bob Cole on the
CBC broadcast. Not only that he doesn't shut up he's senile. He's unlistenable.
I listen to the radio guys Jim Bowen and Jim Ralph. When the action lags during a Maple Leaf game -which is often- these two entertainers will go on for many seconds about anything else even hockey. Their stories are plentiful and their jokes go over people's heads I'm sure. Next to Tom, of course, they are my favorite broadcasters.
Why else would I tune in to an unwatchable and unlistenable team?
You in LA and most of the US hockey cities think you got it bad? Try paying the highest ticket prices (yes we do have scalpers) for the lowest most inferior hockey anywhere. I haven't been to a game in Toronto in years but when I travel and I need a ticket for tonite's game I've received two tickets when I only asked for one and was told to keep it.
Kings Hockey
The only reason Roski and Ansult bought the Kings was to get Staples center and L.A. live built, I know I was a Fedex guy privy to inside info. They don't give a shit about Hockey or football, it's all about MONEY in their pockets!