Staples Staff Ticketed for Fiasco

On Saturday, April 8, I got up at 4 a.m. and drove more than 60 miles to Staples Center, arriving at 6 a.m. for an opportunity to purchase tickets for Laker playoff games. I waited patiently in line along with hundreds of others.

We all left empty-handed and disappointed. I feel cheated, I have to work next week and may have lost my opportunity to get tickets for this historic event. All that will be left to me now at the electronic (price-gouging) ticket outlets will be seats in the low-oxygen, nose-bleed section far away from the action.

This incident has given the Laker organization a black eye, but what makes this even worse is the fact that the real injured parties are the hundreds of loyal Laker fans who also received a black eye as punishment for that loyalty.

I take offense to the article in Sunday’s paper that makes it appear that this was the fault of the fans. It was in fact Staples/Lakers employees/agents that caused this problem. I know, I was there.

RICHARD MACIAS

Lancaster

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The chaos that surrounded last weekend’s sale of Laker playoff tickets highlighted the message most sports franchises have been sending to the “casual” fans who cannot afford season tickets and luxury boxes: “Stay away, we no longer need you.”

This poorly organized effort by the Lakers was a clear indication that unless you provide the team with huge up-front revenues, you can expect to be pushed to the side when you’d like to show some support.

I’d just like to know whose idea it was to simply toss the tickets into the air and let the people fight for them, much the way peasants would fight over a piece of bread thrown by the emperor in one of those old gladiator movies.

KEN STEINHORN

Tarzana

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The Lakers can teach the struggling Dodgers some winning tips, but the Lakers must learn from the Dodgers how to treat loyal fans. At least the Dodgers do not cancel ticket sales after putting thousands of fans in a crazy line for two hours or more.

GOTARO YOSHIDA

Los Angeles