Left hand, meet right hand

I was going to buy a 7 or 10 game flex plan, but wanted a specific section(in the nosebleeds, not on the glass or anything special). I was told by the rep that he couldn't do that, I would have to take whatever seats he was assigned. I thought that was terrible marketing, but assumed it was because I wasn't going for a more premier pkg. I told him I'd stick to the promo tix for this season. Sounds like this may be a systemic problem..

I'm very fortunate that my family has enough income to be able to continue to afford season tickets with an increased price. My family has held a season-ticket account since the 1981-82 season. I've never had concern that a time may come where we'd have to revoke our accounts because of financial difficulty, so for me, it's very sad that the team loses loyal fans because they can't keep up with the prices.

Honestly, whoever made the decision, how can you justify INCREASING ticket prices after the team finished dead last in the league the year before? Fans aren't coming to the games because of the low standings, so why does the organization think they'll come if they increase the prices?

Los Angeles Kings fans are amongst the most loyal in all of professional sports in America because, despite the team's troubles, we stick with the team. It's disappointing that some fans have to leave because the organization feels it's appropriate to increase prices after a suckish season.

My family is able to retain season-tickets for the 26th consecutive season, but my heart goes out to those who aren't able to do so.

Some Kings' ticket reps are notoriously idiotic in the things they say to customers. There is a long history of this and I imagine it will continue even after the organization turns things around on the ice.

I was kind of upset with the team for not opening it's box office on the NHL wide onsale date. I've been going to the box office to buy tickets to the home opener and other games for the new year on the onsale date for something like a decade.

Last season was the first season it seemed to me the team actually wasn't taking fans for granted even. They had coffee and danishes out, Bob and Jim were signing autographs and talking up people in line. I thought the team had finally figured out how to treat fans as though they recognized they were actually valuable. Thank the Ducks for bringing one home for that one, but I actually felt like the team cared about fans. Or at least had realized maybe taken them for granted wasn't in their best interest.

Contrast this with I believe the second year at Staples where they had annouced tickets onsale at 8am at the box office (just like in past years), but then made everyone in line wait until 9am because of pressure from Ticketmaster (which is actually what TL told me in person while I was waiting in line).

And also contrast that with this year...where they didn't even bother to open the boxoffice. Now, admittedly, I should have picked it out of the annoucement that the boxoffice was not mentioned for the onsale, but I think it's ridiculous. Tickets for your team go onsale and you don't even open your boxoffice to sell them to loyal fans who not only care enough about hockey to want to see the 29th place team, but who might also care about where they get to sit to enjoy that pleasure.

Now this whole fiasco with the way they've dealth with the ticket price increase and season seat holders. It seems like the team has no clue on how to even pretend they care about fans.

I mean, I like the idea of charging a premium for certain seats (like Kings shoot twice) or for premium match-ups (Rangers, Detroit more expensive, Islander, Canes less expensive) and think there is a good arguement for doing these things that you can convey to fans to get them to understand the logic if not to agree with it.

"Yeah, it's stupid but we have to", is not such an arguement.

I really thought the Ducks winning the Cup might clue the Kings in to not taking their fans for granted and to realizing they weren't the only game in town (nor the best). It seemed like that worked for one year, but how quickly they have forgotten.

maybe that was one of the account reps that went away list week as mine did.

Thanks for that, Rich. I can tell you one thing for sure.....whoever that rep was, after Helene's article and your blog report, he/she is no longer employed! I seriously doubt that information (if it *was* relayed the way the writer said it was) was accurate and/or sanctioned. AS you said, Lombardi has nothing to do with ticket prices. I'm sure it was more the case of a rep being told to get those season ticket holders renewed, and he/she thought this could be accomplished by "commiserating".

On the other hand, I'm sorry but a "loyal fan through and through" (especially one who says he is a "diehard fan and season-ticket holder of 15 years") who dumps their tickets because of a few dollars raise in price doesn't strike me as that loyal through and through. I've had my seats since 1990 and I can't imagine giving them up, no matter how badly the Kings play and how much they cost. *That's* loyalty. I will bithc and complain when it is appropriate to the appropriate people but what does abandoning your team, especially with the potential they have for future success, accomplish?

I have an interesting situation because I was a season ticket holder for a few years after my return from NY, and then, there was an elderly woman who had tickets in the seats directly in front of me who said that she wanted to keep her seats, but would only be going to about 10-12 games during the year, and would I be willing to buy the games from her (at her price, which is substantially discounted because she's been in their system for close to 40 years.)

So, for the past two seasons, I have given up my tickets, bought hers, and then filled in the blanks where necessary. Aside from missing out on some of the perks, this plan has worked fine for me.

This year, I got 31 of the 41 home games from her, and I made the list of the 10 games I was missing and submitted them to my rep, who was able to get me seats just a couple of rows behind these tickets, for all the remaining matches.

HOWEVER, when he told me they would be full priced, and not discounted at all, I told him I'd pass. While I understood I wasn't entitled to any insider pricing like my friends were getting, I still felt that having been in their database for a number of years, and buying ten games should entitle me to SOME money off.

So, instead I can find tickets even cheaper than what I am paying the woman, IN BETTER SEATS, on eBay, on Craigslist, etc.

As much as I want to help this woman out, I would have been better off just going on a game by game basis through the aforementioned alternatives. I'd save a ton of money.

Oh well.

No KingsFan304 that's not loyalty, that's capability.

Silver, I had a totally different experience. I have been a season ticket holder for 12 years( upper section at SC don't remember at the Forum ) and I did not renew. They contacted me off and on all summer and even invited me to a lunch with Luc consisting of about twenty fans and Luc eating pizza in a conference room at Toyota Center, just an awesome experience. Almost, but did not renew. About a week later my rep asked if I was interested in a mini pack and told me I could keep my same seats, my priority, and pick my games. I jumped on that and bought 2 10 game pacs. They sure treated my right.

Just like every company, you have good customer service reps and bad ones too. Sounds like this fan got a bad rep. Doesn't surprise me, I guess I'm lucky, my rep is great!

maybe thats why ive had 4 different reps in 2 seasons, already on number 2 this season

That's pretty disgusting.

The only season I ever had the disposable cash for diehard season seats turned out to be the lockout year (hooray for me) but if I could afford them I definately would. The raise in ticket prices is annoying but I will always look to Kings single game tickets as my first place to spend what extra bucks I have. Its pretty gross though for a rep to put the blame on the GM.

If they want to say anything, blame decline in advertising dollars for the hike in ticket prices, atleast that is legitimate.

BTW, great title Rich!

Rich,
Do you know the time line for Cliche and Clune to return?

KingsFan304 -

Sorry, but I don't think you can measure loyalty by dollars and cents. Many people can't afford to buy tickets, regardless of cost. Others just have different spending priorities.

To me a die-hard fan is someone who roots for his team all game, every game -- whether it be at the arena or in someone's living room.

both Cliche and Clune are in Manchester, hanging with the Monarchs. Clune is at least a few weeks away, and Cliche won't be ready until well past the new year.

A fish rots from its head, as the saying goes. I'd guess it was AEG's local manager, Mr. Lieweke, who made the decision to a) raise ticket prices after finishing 29th in the league and into a slowing economoy; and b) blame Lombardi.

Same man who built an empty box in Kansas City; built a box to bring the Ontario Reign to compete for hockey fans with the Kings; and who has made such interesting decisions for the Galaxy--on their 3rd coach in a year and missing the playoffs again.

Lieweke considers himself a marketing maven and businessman par excellance. Seems hard to conclude blaming Lombardi was just the not so bright idea of a ticket rep. Or maybe it was bright if blaming the correct person may lose you a job.

I don't know what to make of the blog by Helene. In past years, she's been decent on the NHL and the Kings. This latest just sounds wrong. But, her last article for the LATimes was more about the economy and previous years' troubles than the OT win against Carolina (which was a throwaway in her piece) so maybe the Times' poor reporting practices are rubbing off on her. At least she got the OK for attribution, so we could see this e-mailer was a real person, unlike so many LATimes "anonymous sources." Kudos to her for making sure the e-mail was legit.
I had a very different experience with my account rep. before I re-upped on my season tickets. He talked candidly about price increases, he expressed understanding for the fans' growing impatience with the franchise and very strongly pushed the notion that Dean's plan is for real and ownership will let him grow the team through the draft and minor league development of players within the system. He also patiently listened to my thoughts and comments. 180 degrees from Helene's e-mailer. So, let's hope the problem isn't systemic.

Agree with JonG on this one....

Not wanting to pay some extra $$$ and giving up your season tix because you don't like the product doesn't make you a bad fan.......it makes you a wise consumer.

We need new owners. Preferably federal criminals as they seem adept at winning Stanley Cups.

Salespeople say stupid things all the time, plus people hear what they want to hear.

Last year the kings failed to put a quality product on the ice and management raised the prices. As a consumer we have a choice as to what we purchase, this guy in the article made a choice.

If the Kings want fans in the house then the better show the fans the are moving in a positive direction. And I agree with many of the recent posters, that for the first time in a while the Kings seem to be putting something special together. If the Kids play well, the house will be full by the end of season, and many more to come.

Rich,

re: "that he didn't want to raise prices but that it was [General Manager] Dean Lombardi's idea."
Would you kindly verify this with either Dean Lombardi or Chris McGowan?

Thanks,

Your second statement on watching and rooting for your team even if it's in a living room is 100% accurate. Your statement on loyalty no matter what it cost (dollar wise) is inaccurate I'm pretty sure most people on this site would have season tickets if their finances allowed them to. That has nothing to do with their loyalty.

Daniel...verify that Dean Lombardi doesn't set ticket prices? I can assure you, 100 percent, that it's not the case. Lombardi = hockey, Robitaille/McGowan = ticket prices.

KingsFan304

I root for the Kings win or lose. If I had the funds I'd be at every game, but I gotta tell you... That's at the bottom of my priority list and I don't feel any less of a die hard Kings fan.

If the fan in question had season seats for the past 15 years, it wasn't economics. If he could afford the seats last year, it's unlikely he couldn't pony-up the extra dollars for the ticket price increase this year. It wasn't THAT significant.
I just think he had a really crappy rep. Like Kevco, my rep is great.

Kingsfan304 - Your loyalty is respectable, but Kings ownership has been cutting corners for over a decade, and were instrumental in the Salary Cap embarrassment and HIGHLY responsible for a season lost to collective bargaining. They've been pawning off half-commitment for too long. Shouldn't that lettering in the ice have read - Sorry Fans, instead of - Thank You Fans?

I'm enjoying the spirit going around this team right now, but the Kings have abused their relationship with the fans for a long time. I see nothing wrong with making smart financial decisions for one's money in this economy. Plus, unless you've got a corporate job, who can afford to spend money on entertainment and sports?

AEG wanted corporate fans. Well, they've got them. How is that working out for ya, AEG?

yeah i was there this year at Staples center Box office when tickets went on sale to general public, i was on a monday at 9am. i got there 1 hr early and I literally was the only person there when the BO opened at 9am. I bought my 1 ticket to opening home game $30 for nosebleeds and left. No fanfare, no free coffee/donuts like in the past, and i remember them passing out free pair of tix to the preseason game---nope not this year. Considering the financial state of things you would thing the kings would make things a little easier for fans. Maybe a free Hotdog & drink with every ticket sold, or buy 1 tick get 1 at 1/2 off, something anything. Do they even have those $10 seats on game day if you go to the box office early that they had before??

>>vicarious said: built a box to bring the Ontario Reign to compete for hockey fans with the Kings

Just to clear things up, the city of Ontario built the arena and it is to be used for more than ECHL hockey. The Reign isn't owned by AEG, but rather the former Ice Dog owners. The city of Ontario hired AEG to run the arena. This was going to happen regardless of the Kings affiliation, although it probably does help the new team (Reign) with ticket sales.

i have been getting the miniplan (approx 10-12) games for about the past 7 or 8 years. I currently sit in the section 217, but originally started in the upperdeck. I have great success with my kings tix broker. He always gets me the tix i request (section, row, set#), if i want to add a game a different game, he gets it done for me. If i want to get some closer seats for a certain game, he can usually get me them. Im sorry to see others have had issues, but i thought i should note that my experience with them has been great.

Cristobal, et. al.,

I don't have a corporate job. I work in education. I certainly understand not renewing season seats because of financial reasons in this roller coaster of an economy. But what I read in that article was not a person in financial difficulty. It seemed to be more someone pissed off at ownership and making a statement by not renewing. When I talked about loyalty, I was talking about supporting the TEAM, the players and coaches, *not* the money hunger ownership. Not renewing is not going to have any effect on ownership, unless the entire season ticket base bails at the same time. Now concessions and merchandise is another story! If people refused to buy anything at the arena, that would be felt. So stop buying the overpriced beer!

And, by the way, if any of you have ever followed our team on a road trip, you'd know that LA has some of the lowest prices in the league. For the Columbus Bluejackets (who have *never* made the playoffs!), the equivalent to my seats (section 304 in case you didn't figure it out) are $44.00, whereas at Staples they are $29.50. And that's the box office price! My season ticket price (grandfathered from the Forum days) is even cheaper than that.

Cristobal, while you are correct in that AEG doesn't necessarily care about the Kings and winning, you are way off the mark.

Before AEG took over, the Kings had absolutely no farm system, nor anywhere to put them.

Why did Jaime Storr fail? Why did Aki Berg fail? They didn't have an AHL team to let them develop.

Everyone is so quick to point fingers and place blame, but they forget what this franchise was like before AEG came by and purchase the team.

The team was bankrupt, and on it's 2nd ownership in as many years. Players were getting IOU's instead of paychecks.

The Kings only affiliate was in the now defunct IHL, a league known for aged professionals, NOT development of prospects.

FACT: The Kings practiced at Culver City...ever been there? There is better ice on the ponds in Canada!

Not that I agreed with it, injuries derailed much of what AEG attempted to do. Bettman forced Dave Taylor to include Jokinen in the Pallfy deal. He was not a part of the original deal which Bettman nixed, and informed the Kings that they would need to include someone else. It didn't need to be Jokinen, but at the time, I didn't see anyone complaining, that is for sure. No team in the NHL could lose their entire 1st line, and still compete.

AEG assumed over 150 million in debt, aside from what they paid for the team. Like it or not, they aren't going anywhere.

BBanzai,

The onsale was actually league wide on the Saturday before the Monday they actually opened the box office to sell you tickets. This year, they just didn't open the box office and sold through only Ticketmaster on the first day. In past years they had even held a group of tickets to the home opener for box office only sales so if you went down and stood in line, you wouldn't get beat out by Ticketmaster purchases. This year, they did nothing. Just FYI.

she has a blog? who knew. I thought writing an "article" a week was about the extent of the Times coverage these days.