Staples, Getty Centers

Re “An Icon Without Social Value,” Opinion, Dec. 26: As an L.A. Kings season ticket holder, I’m tired of all the complaining about Staples Center and the so-called “elite” nature of the seating and the high-priced luxury suites and premium seats. My seats are in the upper concourse, and yes, it’s way up there, but I have a great view of the action. The sound system and lighting are crystal-clear. The place is awesome.

But what convinced me that the place was primarily built for the luxury suites and premium seat holders was when I was able to upgrade my two tickets to seats two rows behind the opposing team’s bench. I had a great view of the players’ backs, but a poor view of the playing surface. And it was very difficult to see the action from the scoreboard because it’s too high, but I’m sure it’s at a perfect height for the luxury suites and premium seat holders.

As far as prices being too high for the average fan, that’s not a new problem. If fans can afford the suites, so be it, as long as they do their part and cheer a little louder for the home team. As a public school teacher, some might say that I should be bothered by the players’ salaries, but I’m not.

And as far as the building having no social value, what matters most is the people who work inside. In the Dec. 25 Sports section it was reported that the players, coaches and staff of the Kings adopted about 50 underprivileged families and bought them what they needed for Christmas. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the organization, I don’t know what does.

FEDERICO GARCIA JR.

Hawthorne

*

The representation of the Getty Center as an “elitist enclave,” likened to the Staples Center, by Gregory Rodriguez shows an ignorance of facts regarding the Getty. The Getty Center saw 2 million visitors of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds during its first full year of operation. These visitors paid no entrance fee and only $5 if they parked on the premises.

The design of the parking and on-site transportation resulted from the restrictions limiting the area that could be built on as well as the number of parking spaces allowed, which is why the parking is at freeway level and a tram is used to transport visitors to the museum.

In spite of Rodriguez’s views, there are many more people interested in the fine arts than he would have us believe.

CHARLES G. BLAKELOCK

Oak Park

*

Rodriguez errs in writing that Hank Greenberg was a New York Giant and a hero in the Jewish neighborhoods of the Bronx. Greenberg spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers except for a concluding season after the war with the Pittsburgh Pirates. And he was a hero to Jewish kids and adults everywhere.

GORDON COHN

Long Beach