The Ducks-Kings game at Dodger Stadium is 90% sold, with the league "expecting a sellout by Saturday" after some tickets that were originally priced at $249 "were later reduced to $199 in a post-Christmas sale," according to Jill Painter of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. The price reduction for the Coors Light Stadium Series matchup "was given to fans who had already purchased tickets as well." NHL Senior VP/Events & Entertainment Don Renzulli said, "The best seats are behind the goals but in reserve and upper reserve. Those are awesome seats. The sight-lines from down low are difficult. As you go up, they get better." Reducing the cost "on those high-priced tickets helped." Kings VP/Communications & Broadcasting Mike Altieri said, "The decision to lower the price was because they missed the mark a little bit on those higher level seats. There were certain price levels that completely sold out. The highest level tickets at $279 weren’t moving, so that was a clear indication they weren’t priced (right)." He added, "One of the misconceptions when fans look at Dodger Stadium is why they’re paying that price at the highest level. Those are the best quality seats. You need to be above and looking down into the ice. It was a little confusing." Painter notes fans "will have some good views from the reserve and upper-reserve levels but many difficult views and hard-to-see angles" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/22).
ALL THE KINGS' MEN: In L.A., Paresh Dave notes big events "are central to the NHL's growth strategy." League execs hope that casual fans "intrigued by the unprecedented slate of 'stadium' games will become close followers of hockey after learning about regional rivalries and players' patriotism." The Kings estimate that "about 2.5 million hockey fans -- split about 60-40 in favor of the Kings -- are among the 13 million people" living in L.A. and Orange counties. The goal is to "create an additional million hockey fans." About 35% of Kings fans "are Latino and many are 20-somethings, but there's room to grow in those categories and others." The Penguins said that they "doubled their fan base" between '09 and '13, during which time they hosted the '11 Winter Classic and '12 NHL Draft. However, a "week of activities, including an alumni game and public skating" preceded the outdoor game in Pittsburgh. The impact in L.A. "could be tempered because Dodger Stadium won't play host to any events besides the game" (L.A. TIMES, 1/22).
