Stanley Cup arrives at Staples Center for Kings-Sharks game

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A banner honoring the Kings’ 2013-14 Stanley Cup championship is lifted to the Staples Center rafters prior to the team’s season 2014-15 season opener against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings players and fans look on as the Stanley Cup descends to the ice during a pregame ceremony Wednesday honoring the team’s Stanley Cup win last season. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings players watch as the Stanley Cup is lowered to the ice during a pregame ceremony Wednesday honoring the team’s Stanley Cup win last season. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings captain Dustin Brown skates with the Stanley Cup during a pregame ceremony Wednesday honoring the team’s 2013-14 championship. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings teammates (left to right) Matt Greene, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown carry a banner honoring the team’s Stanley Cup championship last season before Wednesday’s season opener against the San Jose Sharks. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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A banner celebrating the Kings’ 2013-14 Stanley Cup title is lifted about the ice at Staples Center before the team’s season opener against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings fans line up outside Staples Center before the team’s season opener against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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A Kings fan taps the stick of the Wayne Gretzky statue in front of Staples Center before the team’s season opener against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings fans show off their fashion sense outside Staples Center before the team’s season opener against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers, top, shoves Kings captain Dustin Brown to the ice during the first period of Wednesday’s game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings forward Kyle Clifford, left, fights Sharks forward Mike Brown during the first period of Wednesday’s game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski, left, and Kings goalie Jonathan Quick make contact behind the net during the second period of the Kings’ 4-0 loss Wednesday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings goalie Jonathan Quick tries to keep his eye on the puck as San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture battles for position in front of the net during the second period of the Kings’ 4-0 loss Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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San Jose Sharks forward Tommy Wingels, right, scores past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during the Kings’ 4-0 loss Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings defenseman Matt Greene tries to keep the puck away from San Jose Sharks forward Adam Burish during the second period of the Kings’ 4-0 season-opening loss Wednesday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings center Jeff Carter looks for the puck near the top of the San Jose crease during the third period of the Kings’ 4-0 loss Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings forward Tanner Pearson, left, struggles to skate past San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun during the third period of the Kings’ 4-0 loss Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings goalie Jonathan Quick reacts after giving up a third goal to the San Jose Sharks during the second period of a 4-0 loss Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Kings captain Dustin Brown raises the Stanley Cup at center ice during the team’s championship banner ceremony before Wednesday’s season opener against the San Jose Sharks. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Lisa Dillman

Oct. 8, 2014 6:52 PM PT

The star of the show arrived at Staples Center a couple of hours before the Kings-Sharks game.

It had an entourage -- well, two handlers from the Hockey Hall of Fame. People jostled and jockeyed for position on the red carpet. Camera phones got a heavy workout.

Stanley Cup = rock star.

If there wasn’t enough pregame buzz for the Kings season opener and raising of their Stanley Cup banner on Wednesday night, the level of enthusiasm went up several notches on a bright, sunny day here in Los Angeles. The procession of the Cup started at LA Live Plaza and went along the red carpet to the Team LA Store. Carrying the Cup were various Kings season-ticket holders and other individuals.

One of the methods of picking fans to take part included the organization selecting one season-ticket member from each decade to represent the history of the franchise, according to Mike Altieri, the Kings’ vice president of communications and broadcasting.

They did this after the Kings first won the Cup in 2012. That particular banner-raising ceremony wasn’t held until Jan. 19, 2013, because of the NHL’s lockout.

Thankfully, labor peace means that this season will be starting on time. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be at Staples Center for tonight’s events and earlier held a news conference at Staples Center.

Colleague Helene Elliott will have the details from Bettman’s news conference.

Stanley Cup arrives at Staples Center for Kings-Sharks game

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