LA Kings to play 2 games in London, UK?

Post by **Calv** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:44 pm

Anybody heard about the supposed 2 games that are to be played at the Millenium Dome in London by the LA Kings. I haven't seen/herad anything concrete about it but apparently Anaheim and Vancouver have been rumoured to be the opposition

Post by **batdad** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:29 pm

Yes. The Kigs owners own the Millenium Dome as well. We heard about this in Vancouver alot yesterday on the radio because of the Canucks connection to the rumor. It would be real awesome for you in England to have this. However, for the NHL teams involved and the players. Ick. Especially West Coast players who have to travel enough as it is.

Would it not make more sense to send "Brand name" teams over to England. You know teams people may have heard of like oh say, Toronto, NY Rangers, Montreal. You know...teams with a story and a storied history. Or players with the same. Buy hey...NHL always does things right eh.

Post by **E5150_ca** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:33 pm

LA and Anaheim need all the fans they can get.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:38 pm

Shouldn't the NHL be more concerned with keeping (or in most cases, getting back) the fans in North America?

Post by **batdad** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:52 pm

What fans? They have us..they care less about anything else. And honestly, it is not the NHL pushing this England thing. It is the ownership of the Kings. They are opening the Millenium Dome with 2 or 3 Justin Timberlake shows, and want to follow it up with the NHL immediately after. They feel they can get their Kings brand into England. Of course, the NHL loves the idea. After all when the Canucks and Ducks went to Tokyo to promote for the Nagano Olympics it did wonders for the NHL and for the Cancuks. I believe the whole entire time was spent discussing how come Messier was wearing the Cancucks "C" and why had Trevor given it to him.

Note to Buttman: IT IS THE N H L not the N F L. Wait to go global until you have stabilized your own markets. Not skipping to many steps here. But as I said, more the Kings than the NHL on this one.

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:56 pm

It'll never happen, there were rumours of a game here 6 or 7 years ago, meant to be LA - Ottawa, but nothing came of it (The Kings, and the then London Knights were owned by the same guy).

Post by **Calv** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:54 pm

Potential NHL Ice Hockey Fixtures in London

News posted: 28-02-2007

The bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League is pleased to announce that we are currently in discussion with the relevant International and National Governing Bodies of the sport to try and facilitate the staging of two NHL matches between the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks on the weekend of 29/30 September 2007 at the O2 Arena in London.

Subject to the satisfactory outcome of these discussions, which are not yet concluded, we are hopeful of being able to announce shortly details of special exclusive ticketing arrangements and other initiatives for all supporters of bmibaby Elite League clubs and members of IHUK.

Eamon Convery, Chairman of the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League, advised that “from the formation of the league we have had good relationships with the NHL and are the only league in Europe to be an affiliate to NHL.com. It would be great to see a series of competitive NHL games being played in London or indeed elsewhere in the UK. We look forward to hopefully a satisfactory conclusion to our discussions. The fact the proposed games are provisionally scheduled on a key weekend for normal league fixtures is a matter which we need to have addressed.”

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:58 pm

If HRH Elizabeth II is still alive next fall, will they be temporarily called the LA Queens?

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:01 pm

Hells yeah! I should have moved to London before September this year

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:22 pm

I hope that the British leagues don't arrange fixtures that weekend, I really want to go to see this and am less than 30 mins from the dome, but wouldn't want to miss our league games if they clash. Given that the majority of UK fans wanting tickets for the NHL will be those who watch UK hockey it would be daft to make them clash.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:03 pm

This would only be exhibition right?

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:09 pm

Joe wrote:This would only be exhibition right?

Nope, these would be competitive games for NHL standings.

From BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 404873.stm

The Elite League are in discussions over staging two National Hockey League matches in London in September.
Two fixtures between Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks would be played at the O2 Arena in London over the weekend of September 29-30.

Elite League chairman Eamon Convery said: "It would be great to see a series of competitive NHL games played in London or elsewhere in the UK.

"We look forward to a satisfactory conclusion to our discussions."

Convery added: "The fact the proposed games are provisionally scheduled on a key weekend for normal league fixtures is a matter which we need to have addressed."

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:23 pm

They mention it in The Hockey News, I can't remember which writer said it but he suggested it'd be better sending the Ducks and Kings to try acquiring new fans in a place that needs it. Like Nashville

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:01 pm

I still won't believe it until it's in black and white - and who do I go to to get tickets?

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:43 am

Tickets on sale from 12 today, at either www.theo2.co.uk or ticketmaster

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:21 am

Ah rubbish that's not fair! I can't buy tickets yet - it might jinx me completing the security clearance for my new job in London!!!

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:41 am

I'm pretty much buying as many tickets as they will sell me for both days, so if I've got any spare you can have one!

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:35 pm

Got my tickets

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:41 pm

Also got my tickets, block 102 for both games!

My girlfriend is bouncing off the walls now, looking forward to seeing her Ducks play...

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:05 pm

I think everyone who bought highest priced tickets is in block 102 from the posts on THF.

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:07 pm

They won't let me register on there on account of me having a hotmail address

hluraven · Post by **hluraven** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:16 pm

All your missing is a lot of politics and hidden agendas

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:56 pm

At long last the NHL returns to the British shores. Just hope that the league don't make the same mistakes as they did back in 92 and 93 when they wouldn't cancel the domestic league for the weekend. The lack of vision back then cost the league dearly as the NHL wanted to bring more teams over, the deal ended in acrimony. Lets hope lessons have been learnt.

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:57 pm

hluraven wrote:I'm pretty much buying as many tickets as they will sell me for both days, so if I've got any spare you can have one!

Ah thanks very much! I might take you up on that offer!

I've just been speaking to my bro about whether he's going or not. If he goes then I think I'll go. Even if I'm still living in Liverpool (hopefully I should have moved to London by June) I can still get the train down to go see it. It'll probably be a once in a lifetime thing so I should try to get there

Post by **batdad** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:06 pm

I can hear it now:

George the announcer:"Great save Clout-ee-urrr. Bloody hell, George what a formidable blockage by the lad!"

George the colorman "Yes, George it most certainly was a premier league calibre stop"

George the announcer: "And here comes the great Swedish mid-icer Sami Paulsson...must be Paul's son...oh he goes down from a boot to the mid-section"

George on colour: "He is down, but he is not getting up. Where is the spray? Where is the stretcher? Magic Spray...?"

George the announcer:" And now we have a free kick for LA, as the Ducks have gone offside...what? NO freekick? What is this a rugby scrum on ice?"

Yeah, not that funny...someone else could do better.

Archi: GO TO THE GAME! You will have more fun than you have ever had. Plus you get to listen to the unknowledgeable fans next to you and explain to them what is really going on. It may start a riot! But hooliganism in hockey is not an issue."