THE NHL : Angry King Fans Find a Forum for Dissent

Peace no longer reigns in Bruce McNall’s kingdom. Although new fans continue to stream into the Forum in record numbers, a small group of longtime supporters has moved to open revolt.

Is the cause the Kings’ dismal performance this season? Their disappearing defense? Their disappointing offense?

None of the above. King fans can live with poor play. After all, they have for the better part of two decades.

No, it’s not what’s going on down on the ice, but rather up in the seats.

There are two matters of contention: early payment for playoff tickets and the ever-increasing number of Senate seats.

Previously, season-ticket holders could charge playoff tickets to their season-seat accounts. They didn’t have to pay up until 30 days after the playoffs had ended.

No more.

This year, season-ticket holders are required to pay in advance for four playoff games in each potential series. The money will be refunded two to three weeks after the final game.

“Basically, they are playing with our money for two months,” said Don Burkholder, who has had a season ticket for 15 years.

Burkholder figures it will cost him about $800. When he protested to the Kings, he said he was told that if it was a hardship, he had to pay only half.

“There is no reason (the playoff payment) should change because they got (Wayne) Gretzky,” Burkholder said.

“What these guys don’t realize is that if Gretzky disappears one day, this stuff all blows up in their face.”

Right now, however, McNall, the Kings’ owner, is faced with more fans than seats. The team has already sold out a record 27 of 36 home games, with four to go.

“The demand is so high we have to find out now whether they want the seats or not,” McNall said. “If we wait until the last minute before the playoffs, it holds up the fans who want to go.”

The Kings had about 3,000 season-ticket holders before the coming of Gretzky. His arrival has meant an increase of 200%, with 6,000 more signing up. Add Senate seats and the total number of King season-ticket holders increases to 11,672.

“Overall, 85% of our season-ticket holders have come in the last two years,” said Roy Mlarkar, the Kings’ executive vice president.

“We have set up a playoff ticket policy and we are not going to change it for the remaining 15%. We can’t have two sets of rules.”

There have also been problems in the past when season-ticket holders decided against attending some playoff games. It was often too late to sell those seats.

Season-ticket holder Robin Lacroix refuses to pay.

“We’ll be watching them on TV,” she said.

“I don’t know if we are interested in having seats next year. It angers me and hurts me that I have to give up something I love. I hate being treated like dirt.”

The other issue is out of the Kings’ hands. As Forum officials have done for a decade, they are in the process of transforming some seats into Senate seats which, for $8,150, entitles one to attend every Forum event with some limits on concerts.

There were 300 Senate seats in Jerry Buss’ first year of operation at the Forum.

This spring, 455 colonnade and 190 loge seats are being converted, bringing the Senate seat total to 3,849.

An entire section of King fans who don’t wish to give up their spots chanted, “No Senate seats!” at a recent game.

And, when one of them was selected to shoot a puck between periods for a big prize, he dropped his stick and marched off the ice in protest.

Said Forum spokesman Bob Steiner: “The Senate seats are an integral part of the economics, not only of the Forum, but of the Lakers and Kings as well. The Kings derive considerable revenues from the Senate program.

“But nobody has to move. They can retain their seat just for the Kings.”

There are several options. Affected season-ticket holders can pay the $1,850. Or they can keep their seats only for Laker and King games. For Laker games, that would mean $90 a game for loge, $60 for colonnade. For the Kings, it would be $65 for loge, $50 for colonnade. That includes parking ($6), a program ($5) and waitress service.

Or they can move to seats that would cost them $22.50 or $37.50 per Laker game.

The prices for King games are currently $25 for loge and $18 or $10 for colonnade, but are expected to go up.