“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” – Kobe Bryant

Arena: Staples Center (1999) 

Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California

Game Attended: February 1, 2020 vs Anaheim

Game Result: 3-1 Ducks Win

Seat Location: Upper Level Corner, Kings Shoot 2x End

Overall Impression: An Entertaining Arena Fit for Hollywood

There’s no doubt that Hollywood is the entertainment capital of the world. It’s the center of the Los Angeles economy and it’s hard not to look out the window of the plane at the Hollywood sign and smile. And I was glad to see that Hollywood’s reputation for entertainment extends to downtown Los Angeles and the Staples Center.

 

Seriously, how cool do these pregame lights look??

I’ve been excited to see the Kings play for a long time. It was a chance to “reunite” with former Flyers star Jeff Carter. A chance to see one of the NHL’s best defenseman, Drew Doughty (or it would’ve been if he were healthy). And a chance to see Dad’s fellow Avon Old Farms Winged Beaver, goaltender Jonathan Quick!

It was a chance to see the West Coast’s most famous arena and it did not disappoint.

We had a great crew for the game tonight, including Nick, his brother (and my coworker) Brandon, Elon University friend Kyle, and his girlfriend Meredith. Special thanks are in order for Kyle and Meredith, who drove all the way from San Diego to join the Tour!

I also have to give special thanks to Gabe Gelbard from the Kings. Gabe works for the team’s community relations team and was generous enough to meet up with me to hear about my fundraising for Hockey Fights Cancer. We’ve also got some Kings merchandise coming up for auction, stay tuned! A very special thanks to both Gabe and the Kings for their support!

Now back to the arena: Staples Center was great! It’s located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles next to the popular LA Live retail complex. And if it weren’t for the huge crowds outside (more on that later), there would’ve been plenty of places to eat and drink before and after the game.

Outside, the team has a sculpture garden honoring legends from the Kings and the Lakers, including Wayne Gretzky and one of my hockey heroes, Luc Robitaille!

Inside, the building was clean, vibrant, and very spacious. Concessions were your typical arena options, though with reasonable prices by LA standards. There was also a neat outdoor deck behind our section with a bar and great views of LA Live.

And throughout the game, great music and energy all night, despite the Kings’ poor record. The Kings even had a drum line performing during intermissions, much like Edmonton did!

Overall, there was a lot to like about Staples Center. You can tell there have been recent renovations to the building, which have definitely helped improve the fan experience. I’d love to come back for another Kings game if I find myself back in Los Angeles!

It was an amazing night in the City of Angels. But on this night, one angel was absent from Los Angeles, his two Lakers jerseys hanging high above the rink.

I found myself thinking about Kobe Bryant multiple times before and during the game, thinking not about tragic loss, but about triumph and the miracle of life. We can all learn some valuable lessons from Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s amazing lives. Perseverance. Determination. A desire to be great, no matter how hard or cumbersome the work may be. And above all, a reminder to do what we love to do! They’re lessons that will continue to inspire me on the remaining 12 episodes of this Tour.

So Kobe and Gianna, thank you for the memories, the spectacular highlights, and the timeless lessons learned along the way. Do me a favor and stop by to say hi to Leona – I know she’d be glad to meet you both!

 

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