SCALPING

I was very disappointed with the comments by the Forum’s general manager, Claire Rothman, in “The Droids vs. the Straights,” by Mike Goodman. She states that complaints about ticket brokers and price gouging come from the “casual fan” and not “the loyal fans who are with us year after year.” The reason that these loyal fans don’t complain about ticket brokers is that they can afford the tickets at almost any price.

Look around the Forum during Laker games. All you see is Los Angeles’ jet-set crowd. These are the same people who often show up sometime around the beginning of the second period and leave at the end of the third period.

Because some people can afford to pay big money for Laker tickets doesn’t make them loyal fans. I’m a loyal fan who can only get seats that are eye level with the top of the Forum’s center-court scoreboard. In other words, I don’t look up at the scoreboard. Ms. Rothman, there is a problem. I know you “certainly frown on” the scalpers who are supplied by the ticket brokers you so enthusiastically defend, but that’s not enough to help the real loyal fans.

KENNETH M. ROJAS

West Hills