The AFL L.A. Kiss on Saturday won their first game in front of 12,045 fans at Honda Center, and from start to finish, the night "was a complete rock and roll event," according to James Barragan of the L.A. TIMES. From the "national anthem played on an electric guitar, to the bikini-clad dancers suspended in midair throughout the game to fans walking around in KISS makeup and flame orange Mohawk wigs." Before the first down "was played fans had already seen indoor fireworks, a laser show and a performance by heavy metal band Steel Panther." There also was a "special appearance by Motorhead lead singer, Lemmy, who performed the pregame coin toss." With tickets to a Kiss concert "included in the season-ticket deal, the rock band name was a big draw for many of the fans in attendance." Menifee, Calif., resident John Richards, who attended the game, said, "I think 95% are KISS fans and 5% know something about arena football" (L.A. TIMES, 4/6). The L.A. TIMES' Barragan reported the team's season-ticket sales "exceed 7,000 and the team says it expects to sell out all its home games." Kiss Entertainment Dir Harlan Hendrickson said, "We will bring it and we will bring it big" (L.A. TIMES, 4/5).
MORE PYROTECHNICS THAN PIGSKIN: In L.A., Chris Trevino reported the opener "was more extravaganza than sporting event with spotlights flowing continuously throughout the game and some form of entertainment being conducted at seemingly every timeout." But the "general consensus from fans in attendance was that the atmosphere was a success." In addition to the slate of musical performances, there "were mini events during long breaks in play that included choreographed dance performance from the Rock City Dancers" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/6). FOXSPORTS.com's Michael Martinez wrote, "To say it was football wouldn't be wholly accurate," as it "was football plus a whole lot more." For admission, fans "got a rock concert, a pyrotechnics show, laser lights, BMX stunt performers and girls in bikinis dancing in metal pods above the four corners of the arena." They "played on a field that was, well, gray -- although the team calls it silver." Kiss WR Donovan Morgan said, "I don't want to say it was a little bit too much, but it was a little bit too much." Martinez wrote a better description might be "over the top." Considering the "reaction of fans to the game, the football was sufficient to draw and hold their attention" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/6). THEWRAP.com's Tony Maglio noted Morgan and DB Andre Jones "were brought down via elevator platforms in pre-game introductions as more acrobatics and pyrotechnics filled the indoor arena" (THEWRAP.com, 4/5).
