New team name. New arena name. New logo. New jerseys. New faces.
The Anaheim Ducks hockey team has revamped and practically is unrecognizable from the team that made it to the Western Conference Finals just five months ago. The changes come under Henry and Susan Samueli, who bought the team last year from Walt Disney Co.
Orange County’s hockey faithful turned out in droves for opening night on Oct. 6 at the newly renamed Honda Center. The crowd was a sea of orange T-shirts that were handed out to attendees. Those wearing jerseys,new and retro,whirled the shirts overhead.
The coming out party also attracted a few celebrities: Cuba Gooding Jr., Elisha Cuthbert and Lindsay Davenport.
At the arena itself, the new name was the most noticeable of many changes. Huge, red letters displaying Honda’s name light up two of the building’s corners (eventually all four will have it.) A giant new marquee sits alongside the Orange (57) Freeway in a newly landscaped, striped and signed parking lot.
Other changes: a fresh coat of paint outside, a remodeled team store and new food and drinks.
All this comes at a price. Fans can expect to pay about 13% more per ticket compared to last season, thanks to a “facilities” tax for all events at Honda Center. The price of general parking increased 20% to $12 since last season.
It’s hard to take issue with the money the Samuelis are spending on the team and the arena, which they also manage for Anaheim. For hardcore hockey fans, the higher costs aren’t much to pay for a team that boasts star-defensemen and former Norris Trophy winners Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger.
Some project the team to go as far as the Stanley Cup Finals.
,Jacquelyn Appell
