A "melee erupted among 1,500 excited" Lakers fans
seeking to purchase playoff tickets at Staples Center in
L.A. Saturday, resulting in "dozens of police in riot gear"
being called to the arena to "calm the crowd that became
chaotic after the ticket sales process turned hysterical,"
according to Jennifer Hamm of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. One man
was arrested while "dozens of people suffered cuts and
scrapes" after the incident. Meanwhile, playoff sales were
suspended throughout the L.A. area and officials announced
sales will resume next Sunday at 10:00am PT "with a new
procedure to guarantee" order. Staples Center President Tim
Leiweke "took no responsibility for the problems," saying
only that the arena "was supporting the Lakers' efforts to
eliminate brokers from hoarding" playoff tickets. Leiweke:
"We will continue to have zero tolerance for ticket brokers
and their ability to profit from faithful fans." Fans,
"many of whom waited overnight" for tickets "blamed" arena
officials, saying "not enough was done to keep the crowd
organized and calm." L.A.P.D. Sergeant Dave Nunez: "The
Staples Center didn't have the ticket sales in an orderly
manner. We came to restore the peace." Hamm wrote that
although "most fans formed an orderly line that stretched
around the side of the arena, a large group of unruly fans
at the front of the line demanded to know" how tickets would
be distributed (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/9).
