• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorsManor.com

NHL blog, LA Kings hockey news and interviews from The Mayor

  • Radio Replay
  • Prospect Rankings
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / NHL / Ducks / LA Kings still planning an outdoor game vs Anaheim Ducks

LA Kings still planning an outdoor game vs Anaheim Ducks

December 19, 2012 By John Hoven

LA Kings Ducks NHL outdoor game MayorsManorScouts saying that Luc Robitaille didn’t have the foot speed for the NHL didn’t stop him from scoring 668 goals and earning a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. So, even though NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly said he doesn’t see a Winter Classic being played on the West Coast, it hasn’t deterred Robitaille from wanting to put the Kings in an another outdoor game.

Of course, they famously took on the Rangers in a makeshift rink at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas – long before taking the game outdoors was the in vogue thing to do.  During the pre-season of September 1991, Robitaille, Wayne Grezky, Tomas Sandstrom and crew suited up to face a New York team led by Tony Amonte and Doug Weight.

More recently – well, three years ago – Robitaille first told MayorsManor of a desire to put on a pre-season outdoor game in conjunction with the Anaheim Ducks. At the time, he was kicking around the thought of playing in a large stadium, like the Rose Bowl or LA Coliseum (where all seats might be priced at $5-10 to guarantee a sellout), or putting it on the beach, similar to a Pro Beach Volleyball event.

Either way, it sounded like something that would generate quite the buzz in a town where hockey isn’t usually the lead sports story of the day.

And even though the lockout has put nearly everything in a giant holding pattern, don’t think for a second that Robitaille has ditched his outdoor vision and moved on to other things.

“We’ve had communications,” he said, when asked for an update on the idea this week. “I think both teams would love to do something moving forward. Considering what’s going on [with the lockout], we’re trying to manage what we’re doing. But, it’s something we’re both open to doing in the future.”

At first glance, one might interpret that to mean the idea has been put high up on the shelve and the two sides will get to it on some rainy day in the future. However, Robitaille was quick to finish the thought before any misguided conclusion might be drawn.

“Tim Ryan (Anaheim Ducks COO) and I actually had a conversation about it a couple of months ago.”

Which, in the end, means that like all things related to NHL hockey in Southern California at the moment, no date for the game can be given just yet.

But, hey – at least these two parties are still talking.

Follow @mayorNHL

Filed Under: Ducks, HockeyBlog, Kings, NHL, Prospect Profile, Spotlight Story Tagged With: Anaheim, comments, Ducks, hockey, interview, Kings, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, NHL, quote, Robitaille, Winter Classic

About John Hoven

John Hoven is a former member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and co-hosts Kings of the Podcast. He's also the founder and editor of MayorsManor.com, which has been named Best Sports Blog in Los Angeles and Hockey Blog of the Year. Click "ABOUT OUR TEAM" below for a full bio.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. EricC says

    December 20, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    Great article! I would love to see an outdoors game here on the west coast.

Primary Sidebar

Kings Of The Podcast

Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 128 – Summer Kickoff

As the SoCal hockey calendar turns to summer business, Kings Of The Podcast returns with an all new episode focused on what’s next for GM Rob Blake and coach Todd McLellan. Some of the topics discussed include: – Upcoming roster changes for the Kings – Positions needing to be addressed and potential trade/UFA candidates – […]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • 2022 NHL Draft Preview: Pavel Mintyukov, Russian Defenseman
  • 2022 NHL Draft Preview: Kevin Korchinski, Canadian Defenseman
  • Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 129 – Return of Stutts, Plus Sturm to Ontario
  • Marco Sturm Talks Kings Power Play, Coaching Ontario Reign, and Working With LA Prospects
  • Marco Sturm to be Named Head Coach of AHL Ontario Reign
  • 2022 NHL Draft Preview: Rutger McGroarty, USA Forward
  • 2022 NHL Draft Preview: Lian Bichsel, Swiss Defenseman
  • 2022 NHL Draft Preview: Denton Mateychuk, Canadian Defenseman
  • REPORT: Yannetti Contract Extension In the Works; Kings Management Team Returning Intact
  • Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 128 – Summer Kickoff

Tweets by mayorNHL

Footer

Archives

Tags

AHL Blackhawks Brown camp Carter Clifford coach comments Doughty draft Ducks history hockey interview Kings Kopitar lineup Lombardi Los Angeles Manchester Mayor MayorsManor Monarchs Murray NHL Ontario Penner Playoffs Prospect Quick quote Radio Reign Richards roster Sharks Stanley Cup Stoll Sutter Toffoli trade video WCB West Coast Bias Williams

MayorsManor

  • About Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Store

© 2022 MayorsManor.com