As some may know, Kings' owner, Phil Anschutz, owns an arena in Kansas City and is further gambling quite literally on the NHL expanding to Las Vegas. Anschutz' ownership of the stadium in London is the whole reason the Kings went there last fall.
While Kansas City waits for a professional tenant, they will see 'NHL quality' play in a pre-season game between the Kings and the Blues this fall. Read more here:
The St. Louis Blues will meet the Los Angeles Kings in an NHL exhibition game on Sept. 22 at the Sprint Center, according to NHL sources. It will be the first hockey game played at the arena since it opened last Oct. 13.
Kings Meet St. Louis in Kansas City
I suspect Anschutz was looking for more of a return on his stadium than one hockey game. As for Kings' fans, they may be the real winners here since this is a pre-season game that season ticket holders won't have to pay to see. At last week's Town Hall Meeting, an attendee made clear he resented having to purchase any pre-season games to maintain his season seat license.
Carla Muller carla.hockeygal@att.net