For the 2016-17 NHL season, in what will mark their 50th year in the league, the Los Angeles Kings are planning a myriad of special events.
Over the past few months, multiple sources have confirmed the following to MayorsManor:
– As we have previously reported, with NHL expansion on the horizon, next season is expected to be the final year the Kings will host Frozen Fury in Las Vegas. However, the organization is focused on going out with a bang. Plans are nearly complete for the event to be a two-game affair at the new Las Vegas Arena, including a contest against the Dallas Stars, followed by a finale vs their traditional opponent, the Colorado Avalanche.
While the game vs. Dallas is not official just yet, we’ve been lead to believe there is a strong desire from AEG and building management to play two games in the new facility and it’s just a matter of locking in the contract for the second team. In the nearly 20-year history of the event, the Kings have twice doubled down at Frozen Fury. First, in 1998, they split a pair of contests vs. the Avalanche. Then, in 2013, via a story we first broke here on MayorsManor, they hosted the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. Our photo galleries from those two games can be viewed here (Game 1) and here (Game 2).
UPDATE: Dates for the 2016 edition of Frozen Fury and more details are now up here.
– Also, building on a story first reported by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, other officials have told us it looks like the Kings and one other NHL team are the final two clubs in the running to host the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. While the official announcement is not expected until early next year, it is believed Los Angeles is the front runner, as the league is apparently very receptive to holding the game in such a major market, especially for a team celebrating their 50th anniversary. If awarded the All-Star Game, it would be the King’s third time hosting the event. The game was played at the Forum in 1981 and more recently at Staples Center in 2002.
ALL STAR GAME UPDATE [Jan. 11, 2016]: click here
– More than a year ago, we heard there was some internal discussion about wearing each of the Kings major jerseys from the franchise’s history during their 50th season (i.e. the ’67 jersey, the ’80s era purple/gold, the Gretzky era black and white, etc.). From what we have been told more recently, that idea has been scrapped. Instead, they are currently planning a new jersey to commemorate their special season. While a few minor details are still being ironed out, we’ve been lead to believe it is expected to look similar to the design below.
UPDATE [Nov. 30, 2015]: A source close to the situation confirmed this morning that the team is still “kicking around” several ideas regarding the final jersey design. In fact, the crown may even be used in place of the current crest. As such, we’ve provided some additional comps below, including some alternate striping near the bottom hem.
Thanks to MayorsManor artist Justin Cox for the jersey mock up. You may remember him helping us with the leaks we also provided of the Kings two previous Stadium Series jerseys (see here).
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The current jerseys are great. Just get rid of that home plate thing and put the current crown on the chest.
Why oh why are they so hesitant to go back to the Gretzky-era logo? San Jose went back to their 90s design and it looks phenomenal.
Rather than gray I like the black, silver, and white, but instead of the Chevy bowtie logo do a black, silver, and white version of the crown from the old Forum Blue and gold jerseys.