The Ice Surface At Staples Is Just Plain Awful

[Ron*]

I've seen enough.

I've defended the Staples ice surface enough to the cretins of other teams who complain about it, but enough is enough.

The puck bounces more on the ice at Staples then when the Clippers and Lakers guards bring up the ball up-court on a dribble. They might as well be playing on the basketball hardwood. Last night was unbelievable. How many times did the puck bounce over Kings' sticks last night? (I won't even include the Wild, because, let's face it, they didn't touch the puck much last night.)

Dribble, dribble, dribble. Bounce, bounce, bounce. I've read some articles (some I've linked here), and some are pretty old about the subject, but the same principles apply. Some things cannot be controlled, as the weather. But there MUST be something that the ice experts at Staples can do to minimize the damage to the ice surface. I just cannot believe one of the best teams in the league cannot do something about their ice surface.

This team has a lot of talent. But part of the issue (besides terrible passing) has to be the bouncing puck. I wasn't even noticing it until the second and third periods. But it is clear that we have ice issues in L.A., and really why can't we find better ice people to take care of the issues? What about what the San Jose guy mentioned, about stadium deliveries? Keep the damn door closed!

It's interesting that the one article mentions that all 30 ice rinks are ranked by ice surface and reports are sent in by the officials after each game, but the rankings are kept secret.

End of rant.

http://tbo.com/sports/lightning/its-all-about-ice-187187

http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=169900

Click to read more...

 

[Bandit]

I agree it sucks but there's only so much you can do when there are two basketball teams in the same build and your ice is constantly getting covered and uncovered. The best option would be to deport the Clippers and Lakers to Mexico City and Tijuana, respectively.

I've played plenty of hockey in my life on ****** rinks in southern California, all of which are guaranteed worse than the ice at staples, and never once have I thought to myself "Clearly it's the ice that's holding me back". These guys are professionals and both teams have to make due on the same ice. The Kings are failing at life because they're allergic to going to the middle of the ice, whether it's ****** or not.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

I've always saw the crappy ice at Staples as an advantage for them. They are used to it and you can tell as they are expecting the puck to bounce quite often where I've seen other teams struggle with it much more. Like the dude above said, they are playing on the same ice. The Kings had a zillion chances and didn't capitalize which had nothing to do with the ice. I know because they do the same **** on every other ice sheet in the NHL.

BTW.. I'm pretty sure there is a poster on here whose dad or some other relative is the head ice guy there. I'm sure he'll be happy with your post.

 

[Ron*]

I've always saw the crappy ice at Staples as an advantage for them. They are used to it and you can tell as they are expecting the puck to bounce quite often where I've seen other teams struggle with it much more. Like the dude above said, they are playing on the same ice. The Kings had a zillion chances and didn't capitalize which had nothing to do with the ice. I know because they do the same **** on every other ice sheet in the NHL.

BTW.. I'm pretty sure there is a poster on here whose dad or some other relative is the head ice guy there. I'm sure he'll be happy with your post.

Well, my post was more-or-less made to garner some discussion. I do agree with you and bandit that the ice can be to the Kings' advantage at times, but it does affect their ability to pass. Last night there were numerous opportunities to bury the puck and it just jumped over players' sticks time and time again, so last night it was definitely a disadvantage.

As far as the bolded part goes, I've never been one to shrink from telling it like it is. If that poster (or his dad) can explain to me and everyone else interested in the subject exactly why it can't be better then it already is, then I'm all ears. I'm sure dad is doing the best he can with what he has available to him. I am just wondering if he is, then why can't Kings management help him to do a better job?

 

[KopitarFAN]

That would be me.

It can't be better because of the weather (among other things), it's not below freezing for a vast majority of the season like it is throughout the northeast and Canada. It would be easier to keep the building colder A) if people weren't such pansies about being cold at a freaking hockey game, and B) If they had the luxury of colder external temperatures, like they have in a lot of the country that have teams. I would be willing to bet that it is no worse than ANA, PHX, SJ etc. It's just not good weather for it.

Plus, as Bandit mentioned, the never-ending activity in the building this time of year (at least 150 events from early october to mid-april) doesn't help.

FWIW, I read the reports they get from the officials (the only neutral party after a game) almost weekly and they see no problem with it, usually grading it at average to slightly above average.

 

[Ron*]

That would be me.

It can't be better because of the weather (among other things), it's not below freezing for a vast majority of the season like it is throughout the northeast and Canada. It would be easier to keep the building colder A) if people weren't such pansies about being cold at freaking hockey game, and B) If they had the luxury of colder external temperatures, like they have in a lot of the country that have teams. I would be willing to bet that it is no worse than ANA, PHX, SJ etc. It's just not good weather for it.

FWIW, I read the reports they get from the officials (the only neutral party after a game) almost weekly and they see no problem with it, usually grading it at average to slightly above average.

Appreciate the info, but I for one have no problem bundling up for a hockey game. And I do notice it is colder for some games then for others inside the arena, and usually the weather outside has nothing to do with what the temperature is inside.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Appreciate the info, but I for one have no problem bundling up for a hockey game. And I do notice it is colder for some games then for others inside the arena, and usually the weather outside has nothing to do with what the temperature is inside.

It's about maintaining a temperature inside, which is hard to do when all the doors are open. They usually keep it in the mid-50s (NHL regulation), but obviously with the doors open the temperature fluctuates. Only in some of december and january (this year so far being the exception) is their really no difference between the inside and outside temperatures for night games, day games are a whole other issue.

 

[TonySCV]

It's the same ice for both teams. If there's any advantage - it's to the Kings for being most familiar with their home ice and the boards.

 

[yankeeking]

Would it not be a disadvantage to play 41 times a year on bad iceand that cancel any advantage of knowing it is bad...............we should move back to the forum where we would be the only constant occupant

 

[Pucknut50]

Damn ice I knew there was a reason we suck lately. It almost killed Gagne when he lifted the cup! Outrage I say, Outrage!! Oh Ron:pillow:

 

[Muzzinga]

bad ice helps the Kings style though. Better ice would mean other teams can swing the puck around easier and score pretty goals. Bad ice keeps the number of goals down

 

[King RAZZ]

Why do you think I call our Zambonis "portable Slurpee machines"???

 

[kingsholygrail]

Ice at Staples has been suboptimal since 2000.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I find it perplexing that in 2014 there isn't a simple formula used for optimal ice conditions. De-humidifiers, adjusting the temperature of the building, it seems like such a simple thing to maintain. Seems like there should be a computer system that can adjust each part of the equation to maintain good ice. I see the same thing at rinks I play at, when you walk in you can tell it's too hot or there is condensation on the glass. But those are independently owned business that are trying to cut costs and they do so by being cheap with their main function of business. If it's because Staples wants the fans to be more comfortable then the Kings deserve bad ice. Wear a jacket jerks!

 

[Whiskeypete]

humidity has more to do with the ice than the air temp. the Stapler could be 50 degrees inside, but if the humidity is high the ice will still be soft.

it's a constant fight to control both conditions inside the arena. one of the reasons teams like EDM, CAL, WPG and MIN will have such good ice is because during the winter those areas have very low humidity. teams in the NE, or around the Great Lakes will have a bit more humidity during the winter due to the large bodies of water near them.

someplace though like EDM is the perfect storm for ice. extreme cold air temps and very low humidity, which result in very hard ice (ie, FAST).

LA fights the constant battle of warm winters and a relatively constant moist humidity. the Pacific helps stabilize the air temp and it also present s a constant source of moisture in the air (humidity).

the rinks we and our kids play in, struggle with this problem also. even though we are talking much much smaller facilities and a fraction of the human presence, they have problems.

the rink i coach at two years ago had a dehumidifier go down and it took iirc 8 or 9 days to get fixed. this happened late winter in Chicago, so it was still 20-40 degrees outside. the A/C inside worked fine as well, so temp was never a problem. having one of the two dehumidifers fail though taxed the system. the ice was soft the entire time.

human beings add temp and humidity to a rink/arena. without having a system that can maintain a desired temp/humidity constant, there will be issues.

add in the issue that Staples has of basketball courts, concerts, award shows, etc that result in the ice being covered and you complicate it further.

 

[HolyShot*]

The ice is not the reason were losing.