Los Angeles Kings: Most underrated fanbase in the NHL

A Facebook group of diehard Los Angeles Kings fans prove that the Kings have an extremely passionate and engaged fanbase.

Facebook has made a great impact on the sports world. So many fans nowadays can simply join team groups with people that share the same passion for their respective teams. Passionate sports fans connecting and creating second families with people they wouldn’t know without this social outlet. One special FB group coming out of Los Angeles not only brings people together through games and social events but has also impacted the fan experience at Kings games.

The Die Hard LA Kings Fanatics group was started by Alex Lim in July 2011. A Kings fan since 2003, she became a hockey fan by flipping through channels one day and finding a Sharks-Kings game on TV.

It was a group of about 30 Kings fans to start and grew to around 50 people through its first year. Thanks in large part to two Stanley Cup championships in three years and the growing popularity of Facebook for sports fans in general, the group grew to 9,000 members by the summer of 2014.

“The fans are like no other. They are not just friends, they have become family,” says Gabrielle Burgess, Kings fan since 1993.

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What the Die Hard LA Kings Fanatics group was able to accomplish in the summer of 2014 and beyond is what makes them unique. Trasi Starr, now working for the Kings in the Game Entertainment Department and a fan of the team since 1991, suggested at the start of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Kings won the Cup, she would host a picnic for everyone in the group to meet and celebrate in the summer.

The Kings won the 2014 Stanley Cup, so the plans were in motion. With help from other members of the Die Hard LA Kings Fanatics group (DHKF in shorthand), 350 Kings fans attended this July event in Griffith Park that was eventually named the Annual Royal Family Pucknic.

“In this group we are way more than just hockey fans! We are an instant party for sure,” says Cassandra Duong, Kings fan since 1998.

It’s very common for a large number of fans to attend an event hosted by the team directly, not from a couple of fans just wanting to have a get together. The Pucknic has been a yearly tradition now and gained a tremendous amount of popularity amongst Kings fans. They have held the event for the last six years.

This inaugural event was a kick off to more events and fundraisers. In September 2014, the group had a huge beach party in Dockweiler Beach. That has also become a yearly event as well. In August 2015, they participated in So Cal Special Olympics Plane Pull. 25 members decked out in Kings gear pulling a cargo plane 12 feet. This has also become a yearly event and the group generates over $3,500 in donations annually.

“We are there for anyone in need,” says Irene Napoli, Kings fan since 1980.

The DHKF group has donated to the Kings Care Foundation, which is run by the Kings organization and various other charities through events, including 5K runs, food drives for different churches, Autism fundraisers, toy drives, school supply drives, and animal supply drives to name a few.

“Just knowing how your team actually cares about and values your opinion is amazing,” says Trasi Starr.

The Die Hard Kings Fanatics group caught the attention of Los Angeles Kings organization. The organization has contributed to the raffles for charities by donating raffle items. Signed and unsigned memorabilia, equipment and game tickets.

The Kings also created Fan Focus Groups through the DHKF group, where fans can voice their opinions on the in-game experience and entertainment. Suggesting ideas they would like to see, what they feel doesn’t work and what can be improved. The organization has brought many of their ideas to life.

Now sitting at over 11k members, the group is so tight knit within themselves, they have also gone above and beyond for each other. Like any other close family, they have pulled through for each other when times have gotten tough for them individually.

They have pulled together money towards funerals for member’s family, sent a countless number of fans to their first live Kings game, found jobs for each other, sent hockey kids to hockey tournaments either locally or traveling, and one member even gave a car to another member when their car died. An amazing unit brought together by an organization that has become an extended family.

“It’s amazing to meet such a large group of friends who have become family, all because of our shared love of the Kings.” – Alex Lim

When thinking of the best fanbases in the NHL, most people would think of any of the Original Six teams or biasedly include their own favorite team. One fanbase that doesn’t come to mind for fans outside of Los Angeles would be the Kings fanbase.

Whether they were fans in the early years of their 54 year existence, became fans through the Wayne Gretzky years, through the Championship years or through these group events, the fanbase for the Kings organization is very strong and making an impact towards their organization and in their communities.

A large portion of hockey fans think that great hockey fanbases don’t exist in warm weather states and southern states. This is one remarkable example that proves otherwise.