LA Kings game center court Staples Center

New thing of the day, watching an LA Kings game center court at the Staples Center.

Company was giving away tickets for the NHL LA Kings vs Dallas Stars game for Thursday Veteran's day. They buy season tickets for clients, but when no one is using them, they'll offer them up for company staff. We put our names in and got the tickets! 

We sat in the center section in the center rows, here is our view. 

Ridiculously great seats and I am ruined. The two other times I've seen a Kings game - we sat in the nosebleed section, so it was such a great first to get these great seats. Also we sat in the VIP center lounge area - where the concessions and facilities are more posh and make you feel like a VIP. We also got parking passes in the lot right by the stadium so it was super convenient.

We got there about an hour and a half before the game. We wandered around the Nokia center LA Live next door first. It's a relatively new complex with restaurants and the Grammy Museum which is next on my list of new things to try. Then we went into the Team LA Store. For years I've been wanting to get an LA Kings sweater, but never really found one I liked. That day I finally found a really cool and great jacket - this one :) I look super cute in it, plus it's got the Kings logo and colors, and you can wear it as normal wear - not just a jersey you can wear to games and such. It looks way better on but here it is.

Next we grabbed 2 hot dogs, some fries and a soda at the concessions, ate - food was good, and got to our seats just as the game was starting. One thing that I loved was when they announce "Here are your LA Kings" - the door through which the Kings come to the ice is painted/decorated to look like castle doors. Very fun and festive. I also loved our seats, and it felt like the view and action was so much closer and more accessible/fun. People were way more into the game and the seats were more comfortable. If we can't afford seats in the center center, I think we'll avoid the nosebleed section and try to sit closer to the ice next time. 

What I loved were the period intermission games. The first intermission had a group of people racing in hamster balls on the ice. It is absolutely hilarious watching them roll, slip and slide all over the place. So fun and cool.

The second intermission challenge was to slingshot someone sitting on a metal disc - and trying to hit some large pins on the other side of the rink - sort of slingshot bowling on ice. 3 challengers, one winner! I didn't get any great photos but here's the general idea. 

The game itself was incredibly fun and exciting. All 3 periods were action packed and both teams played really well. The first period both teams scored and it was very heated and fast playing. The Kings scored a second goal in the first period, but because of some penalty or interference, the goal didn't count and that had both the fans and the Kings team heated! The rest of the first period was a bit rough and we saw the first fight break out :) A lot of holding and punching, but I love that you can fight in hockey!

The second period was probably played better by the Dallas Stars. The Kings were on the defensive a lot and didn't seem to have their stuff together offensively to be effective. It was still a great period. A lot of near misses and very close calls. We saw a few more fights and I think the almost 2nd goal of the first period still nagged at them.

The third period was the clincher. The Kings scored twice! They were much more on their game and a few more power plays in. Overall the fans were ecstatic and we were glad for a such an exciting and successful game. The Dallas Stars played very well as well - which made it a nail biting and all the more suspenseful. 

After the game we walked around the arena for a bit and then went back to the LA Live center to look around. It was a lovely game, lovely seats and I am an LA Kings fan for life! Thank you Kings for making me feel like a Queen for a day :) Go Kings Go!