Bummer.
So they…read moremoved the venue to the beautiful Discovery Cube up in the Northern portion of LA County - in the sprawling Hansen rec area off the 210 freeway - To me bigger and more spread out than last year's event held in LA Live in a perma-tent. Let me just say that this is a charity event for the Kings Care Foundation
Cost? About the same ($100) for us General Admission and like $300 for VIP. What does VIP get? Entry in for one hour before the GA. It had been 90 minutes last year. I had several VIP tell me they were able to get just about every King's signatures. The VIP includes
Early entrance for VIP only
Plus the additional 2-hr time frame that us common folk got.
Plus a buffet lunch
Plus a cut-in-line-pass - just one this year
On top of the admission, autographs were $25 per pair for a predetermined pair of Kings, seated with individual table . Two things autographed, or one thing along with a professional photo that you could print or download (more on this later). Taking photos with your camera were not allowed - There was also a silent auction, grab bags, Sprouts prepared sandwiches for each GA. Beer and wine available for sale.
Knowing lines were going to be long, we arrived 1hr and 45 minutes early and were probably 150th in line, not bad. The player's bus was a bit late, but after 60 minutes, the GA's were allowed in.
Already knowing who I wanted autographs from, I briskly walked to my first choice, Drew Doughty and Matt Greene. I'd say no more than 30 in front of me. At first the line was actually moving at a pretty good pace, but then the VIP's who had the cut-in-line passes started lining
up and the progression slowed to a snail's pace, Why? Because many of the VIP seemed to think it was ok to have multiple multiple items signed and pictures galore. The issue here is the employees who allowed this. I was three away, and a women had four jerseys, a hat and at least 2-3 pictures all to be signed. HEY KINGS - that isn't right.
Drew and Greener took 1 hr and 10 minutes of my precious two hours - Alec Martinez took up the rest of my time and it was over..... Here are some observations
Although spread out, the lines seem to go on forever - with very little monitoring of what was going to be signed and more importantly how many. So many fans feel entitled and don't bother with the rules - but it's the employees who are to blame. If they enforced the rules, it would go smoother
When the professional photographer snapped your shots, you were given a card with a specific number - Prints were available there, or downloads were free on-line. Except the cards did not match up with the our pics. I blame again the workers who were supposed to pass the cards out correctly, they didn't. FAIL
Too many people. I understand it was a charity event, but the Kings don't show much regard for our benefit. Too many people - too many tickets sold. If there were a few hundred tickets sold, it would of been better for everyone.
Last year the prices for autographs were $5 and $10 - this year $25 for the pair of players they put together, again, not fan friendly - If I already have someone's autograph, I need to pay anyways to get the other? It would of been much better and lines would of been more spread out if players were individually available.
Lastly (finally), I must say the VIP cutting in line with all their gear to have signed is just maddening. If I had four jerseys on my arm, I would of been called on it.
Overall, it was an ok experience this year. Hope the Kings take some of our comments into consideration.