NHL Stadium Series - California Style

Now I know having hockey in California isn't the same as say a winter game in Winnipeg, Quebec or New York but the stadium series game in Los Angeles between the Kings and Anaheim Ducks, plans to include a beach volleyball court, amongst other things.


Think about what should surround the rink on the Dodger Stadium field.
Ice sculptures, Fake snow, like in Winter Classics of years gone by? Maybe a public skating rink? How about a large, sandy beach volleyball court where people in bikinis can frolic during a hockey game!

From LA Times

This artists’ rendering of the 2014 Stadium Series game between the Ducks and Kings on Jan. 25 was provided by the NHL to the LA Times, which wrote about the transformation of Dodger Stadium into a hockey wonderland befitting California.


From the Times, which reports that Wayne Gretzky will be honored at the game:

A rendering provided to The Times shows many wondrous sights that will be constructed on the field — an avenue of palm trees separating a beach volleyball court in left field from a performance stage in right field, an inline skating rink near home plate, and the rink stretching across the infield — but having Gretzky in the house might be the most splendid vision of all.

Well, that and the beach volleyball.

You know what else the game is going to have? From a reader in a California beer league, an email he received in connection with the Dodger Stadium game, from the NHL's casting manager:

"We are looking for 40- 60 people to fill the following roles: Walkers/ Joggers; In-line Skaters; Skateboarders; Bikers (riding regular bikes - no tricks). They will bring their own bike to game day."
"We are trying to create a Venice Beach atmosphere. Age minimum is 18 years old. There is no age maximum."
"This is a volunteer position. You will be on the field during pre-game ceremonies, and both intermissions. During intermissions Kiss and Five For Fighting will be playing on the field. During the game you will be watching the game in a holding area where a meal and drinks will be served. You will not receive tickets to the game."

OK, but you get to see KISS, right? That's payment enough.
Here's an official shot from the NHL of the stadium, before construction for the game:

Most of the Hockey world might outwardly chuckle at the idea that the first outdoor NHL game West of the Mississippi (in the U.S. at least) is going to take place on a grassy field with people getting their Misty May and Kerri Walsh on in the background. The whole point of having a game in LA is to have a game in LA. No one wanted to see some prefab winter wonderland that makes a shopping mall Santa’s workspace look like a NatGeo photo of the Arctic Circle by comparison. We wanted something that evoked the unique juxtaposition of ice hockey and beach life, and this captures it. The inline rink is actually a rather inspired idea, given how that’s the entry point for many a West Coast player into ice hockey – such as, Emerson Etem.


So while it might not be the same as the game we saw in Michigan recently, with falling snow, freezing temperatures and people wrapped from head to toe in layer upon layer of clothing, surely its better to have the game 'California-cised' than something it isn't. Cos, Dude that would be like so totally gnarly and stuff.