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Stanley Cup victory parade: L.A. Kings fans line up early downtown

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Hours before thousands of fans were expected to crowd Figueroa Street in downtown for the L.A. Kings’ Stanley Cup victory parade, Josh Forsythe had already set up camp.

Armed with a to-go box of pancakes and breakfast food, the lifelong Kings fan, his wife, three young children and his sister-in-law arrived at 7:30 a.m.

“We got here early to root on our boys — wouldn’t miss it for the world,” said Forsythe, 31.

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Roughly 17,000 people are expected to crowd the mile-long parade route on Figueroa when the procession starts at noon. It will mark the second Stanley Cup victory parade in three years for the Kings, who won the NHL championship in 2012.

The second championship came in a nail-biting, 3-2 double-overtime victory Friday night over the New York Rangers.

Richard Anderson, 43, of Santa Carita, couldn’t make it to the parade for the first Stanley Cup win, so this year, he and his wife, Ana, took vacation days and arrived on the route before 9 a.m. to secure a good spot near the start point.

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“It’s one of those unique experiences,” he said. “You can’t count on it ever happening again.”

The procession, which begins at Figueroa and 5th streets and ends at Staples Center, is expected to last 30 to 40 minutes, with multiple street closures in effect. The Kings will also host a sold-out hour-long fan rally at Staples Center starting at 1 p.m.

The LAPD has set up bike barricades from 5th Street to Staples Center and has 800 officers out, lining the street every 20 yards, officials said.

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“We have a very good plan in place,” said LAPD Commander Dennis Kato, referring to the stationed officers, a bomb squad in place and security cameras. “This is a feel-good event. All we have to worry about is too many people in one place.”

For breaking news in Los Angeles and the Southland, follow @Caitlin__Owens.

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