The Kansas City Scouts of the National Hockey League played in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, for two seasons – 1974-75 and 1975-76 – before moving to Denver. They were not very successful, to say the least, winning only 27 games, losing 110 and tying 23 in those two seasons.
Kemper Arena was built in 18 months in 1973-74 at a cost of $22 million. It stood on the site of the former Kansas City Stockyards, just west of downtown. Capacity for hockey was 17,647.
The Los Angeles Kings played a total of four games in Kemper, winning three and losing one. One Kings’ win especially stands out in my memory.
The date was March 30, 1976, and the Scouts were in the midst of another terrible season in which they wound up losing 56 games, and winning only 12. However, on this night the Scouts jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Kings on goals by former King Randy Rota, Denis Dupere and Jim McElmury in the first 8:21 of the game against Kings’ goalie Rogie Vachon. The Kings then started a comeback on goals by Tommy Williams and Larry Brown. After K.C. took a 6-5 lead at the end of the second period, the Kings next scored two consecutive goals by Mike Corrigan and Bob Murdoch to take a 7-6 lead. This upset the Scouts fans that proceeded to litter the ice with game programs, beer and soft drinks.
Our broadcast location in Kemper was in one of the suites just at the top of the lower bowl with the fans seated down in front of us. At the time I said on our radio broadcast, ‘This shows the mentality of these fans, stupidly littering the ice with debris.’ The fans could hear our comments and I heard one fan say in a loud, gruff voice, ‘Did you hear what he said about us?’ I looked down and this angry man, about – 6’5” – stood up and came toward our booth. He didn’t go in to the aisle, instead he just started stepping over the backs of seats to get to us. He leaned on the short glass in front of me and stared at me from about a foot in front of my face. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do, perhaps throw a soft drink in my face or something worse. My partner, Dan Avey, was swinging his hand held microphone as if he was ready to use it to hit the fan. Dan then told a little usherette to go get security. She left and never returned, nor did security. I had to look around the fan to do the play-by-play and I was determined not to let him distract me.
When Williams scored his third goal of the game to give the Kings the lead, I really poured it on, just to upset the fan even more. By this time he was spitting mad and in his frustration he tore up his ticket stubs, threw them at me and said, ‘I’ll see you later.’ You could come into our booth from the concourse so I spent the rest of the game alternating between calling the play-by-play and looking over my shoulder but my “friend” never showed up. The Kings won the game 8-6 in their final appearance ever in Kemper Arena.
The new Sprint Center in Kansas City opened in 2007, managed by the Kings owners, Anschutz Entertainment Group. Kemper Arena still stands and in 2013 will be the home of the Kansas City Renegades of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League.
The Scouts played only two seasons in Kansas City before moving to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies of the NHL. After six seasons in Denver, the franchise moved to New Jersey and became the very successful New Jersey Devils.
Bob,
I live in Topeka, KS, now, an hour west on Kansas City. I attended the Kings vs Penguins game at the Sprint Center last year and sat in the booth with Nick and Daryl. Thanks for sharing your story! It’s awesome! I work for the Topeka RoadRunners hockey team (NAHL) and will share this story with our fans who I’m sure will get a kick out of it!
[Reply]
Thank You! Finally a first step to reason. NHL & NHLPA meet with mediator.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8680079/2012-lockout-nhl-players-association-agree-mediation
Now and only now is there hope.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
@luc20rules,
Unless the mediators name is Luke Skywalker, I don’t see a lot of new hope here.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
@DesertKing, Better if it was Obe Wan Kanobe:
Bettman “We need these Contracting Rights in the New CBA!”
Obe Wan Kanobe ” These are not the Contract Rights you are looking for.”
Bettman “These are not the Contract Rights we are looking for.”
Obe Wan Kanobe “You will now sign the new CBA Contract.”
Bettman “I will sign Evil Load on the new CBA Contract.”
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@luc20rules,
Evil Load is Darth’s father.
Jon G Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
@luc20rules, I view this as a positive step, because it gives Fehr and Bettman a way to make concessions without losing face. Both sides have been hurt by the lockout and the principals need a way to stop the bleeding while still being able to claim victory.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@luc20rules, Don’t get your hopes up. Federal mediators were involved last lockout and the season was lost. This is likely another PR play for them to pretend they are trying to solve the issue.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
@Sebastian, exactly… in fact I saw that one of these guys sat in on a meeting in ’94 and 3 days later Buttman cancelled the season…
I see this as a negative. It will only make the leagues resolve that much more firm. I can see them saying amongst themselves “this fed doesn’t know Richard about our league.”
All I hope for now is that if the season is lost, decertification takes place and after months of courtroom bliss, the league just folds… enough is enough.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
@luc20rules, It’s better then nothing.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
@luc20rules, This doesn’t feel like a good sign to me, but you never know. I wonder if the fans are going to be as forgiving this time as last. Losing a season one time is one thing, but twice in such as short time span, the fans might just be more prone to make them pay that much more for their sins.
[Reply]
Thanks for the great story Bob. I like the fact that you rubbed it in even more.
[Reply]
Hockey? What is this “Hockey” you speak of?
[Reply]
RobSD Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@The Weasel,
I have been avoiding this site since the strike. Normally I check it several times a day. Bettman is pile o crap that needs to be scooped up and put in the trash.
Name another business where they have record sales and the brand is popular than ever and the boss asks the employees to take a pay cut???
Bettman is a decent business man but he is killing hockey. He is taking advantage of fans because after the last lost season, we came back in record numbers.
I will always come back but I feel taken advantage of. We pay the salaries. 50% of revenue comes from game sales… More than any other sport. For the good of the game nhl fans should boycott the first few weeks of next season. If that happens, this won’t happen again for a long time.
[Reply]
Great story Bob! I’m curious if Kings Management ever provided extra security for you at any time since 1973? It sounds like you could have used McSorley or Grimson to help out in KC!
[Reply]
Apparently the little women aren’t the only ones who are crazy in Kansas City.
(Apologies to the song writer of that old time classic hit.)
[Reply]
Bob in 1976 you could have taken him right? Great story Bob, keep them coming.
[Reply]
Dom Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
@luc20rules, the way he had the Cup over his head on 6/11/12 he still CAN!!!!
[Reply]
Thanks Bob I love these “used to be” articles from you.
I really love hearing things form your side.
I love the fact they are now the Devils too, even back then we kicked em while they were down.
Funny how KC and Denver went. Ya think KC would have a better chance than AZ.
IF anything good comes from the Lockout, maybe it will be the Yotes leaving. One can only Hope
(Hope a reference to comments above too)
[Reply]
nice story, I really liked the story. I think the ‘yotes must go, it would have been so cool if they had been the team to return to Winnepeg having all the teams records stay intact and Seanbut Doan would have actually been on the team in ’96 when it left for the desert and in ’12 when it should have returned. Atlanta absolutely should not get another shot at an nhl team they have failed twice. Any of the second chance markets Colorado,San Jose,Minnesota,St.Louis,Ottawa,Winnepeg,Ohio(Clevland,Columbus),should not ever get a third chance should they fold or relocate.t I agree if the lockout produces the end of the coyotes it will be worth losing half a season will be bearable but LAKings I miss you. Did yousee the Hockey News about 3 issuess ago that rated each teams top 6 forwards and there bottom6 too. They were put in the low 20′s in both catagories and overall they were like 27th, this is like 3 issues after winnning the cup. Brown,kOPitar,Williams,Carter,Richards, and Gagne or Penner are a solid top 6. All of our 7 potentials have had 30 goal seasons. Some of the group notabley Richards,Carter and Gagne have hit 40. I don’t think many other clubs can match our top 6. I would put them in the top 5 leagur wide. Our botttom 6 could use some work,while Stoll,King and Pennner make a solid third line our fourth line is poor(Nolan,Fraser and Lewis). I would rank La’s bottom 6 around 14th and overall the forward group would definatley be top 10 even though they had a tough regular season I think you will see that Carter rejuvinates Richards and Penner finnaly figured it out, So second line will be awesome. I think Brown was the key to the first line cominjg to life now that they have they’re chemistry back we only need to see Gagne regain his form and Stoll work out some chemistry with him and King.. That would give us three awesome lines spotted with ex Flyer forwards(Williams,Richards,Carter,Gagneand don’t forget Fraser used to be a Flyer).
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
@Evan Chouest, East Coast Bias & no respect for Defensive play. IMHO Kopi is the best 2 way Center in the game. But, I doubt he will ever be mentioned in any top 10 Forward lists just because he likely will never have a 100pt season in the Kings D-1st system.
[Reply]
Pesus Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 8:37 am
@luc20rules,
I remember some magazine ranked all centers. The article came out a few weeks before the Richards Simmonds trade. They ranked Richards way ahead of Kopi. If that’s not proof of east coast bias I don’t know what is.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 9:54 am
@Pesus, Richards Simmonds hahaha
DesertKing Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 10:11 am
@Stuart
C’mon people, lets get moving, work it, work it. We all meed to wear meon colored nylon shorts!
KC23 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@Pesus, DS said Richards was the best two way center in hockey, but I don’t see it. I love Richards, but I don’t see him as that good of a defensive center to be called best.
My pick for best two way center is Detroit’s Datsyuk. OTOH, Datsyuk has had the pleasure of playing with more talent for a while now. Not hard to make a good argument for Kopitar. Richards? No way. Boston alone has 3 centers you could argue that are better two way centers than Richards.
Richards is one of the best PK centers I’ve ever seen though. Kopitar is still better though.
DesertKing Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
@Evan Chouest,
Same idiots who picked us to lose to the Casucks, the B-Losers, the Yotes, and the She-Devils. I am meeting with these people next week to sell them a bridge in a swamp.
[Reply]
Oh and if we hadn’t given away Boyle,Moluson and Purcell and Smyth we would have the best forward set in the nhl
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
@Evan Chouest, Smyth who asked to be traded and technically gave us the cap room to trade for Richards 5.5 mil/yr and toward 0.5 mil/yr of Carter. All the other players you mentioned got top 6 time and couldn’t produce. By the time they were in the last year of RFA we had to trade them or just lose them to free agency. IMHO they wouldn’t of signed with the Kings in their UFA summer.
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
@luc20rules, I think he was being sarcastic.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:03 am
@Lake Forest, Let us hope?
KC23 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@Lake Forest, I thought he was kidding as well.
The mediators will either help or just speed up the inevitable.
Most likely the latter.
[Reply]
Back when the Devils won their 1st cup, there was a Scouts fan somewhere proudly wearing his Indian on horseback jersey. Probably a Rockies fan wearing his Wilf Paiemont or Barry Beck Colorado jersey too. lol fans never forget
[Reply]
Many are making comparisons to 2004-05, but the situation is very different. Back then I think both sides had very compelling reasons to not give in. NHL wasnted the Salarly Cap and the NHLPA was willing to dig in to not have one. This time around both sides just lose tons of money with each cancelled game that will never be made up. Its almost as if the bad blood between the 2 sides has just festered over the last CBA and neither side wnats to give anything to the other. My hope is the mediator makes them start trading remaining items until there is a settlement. If anything this whole thing has moved way too slow to this point. What they should do is each start with 100 pts, and bid on remaining items one at a time. Example NHL whats 8/28 fine they bid until out biding the NHLPA say at 50pts now they only have 50pts left and the NHLPA has 100pts to bid on the remaining items. Say the NHL then wins to have no Arbitration for 8/28 and win bid 30pts now the NHL only has 20 pts remaining. Lets also say that for each pt the NHLPA has more then the NHL has remaining 1 mil gets added to the 211 mil figure in the make whole provision. etc…
I’m sure there are ways to get this done.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 10:23 am
@luc20rules, Dont see it happening my friend. Remember this, Bettman maybe an aarogant egomaniac, but he obviously has the owners blessing on this. If Bettman was doing things against their wishes, I think they would definately Can his ASS !!
Dont think a mediator will make a difference. Hope I’m wrong.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@puck73, My take as well. The NHL allowing a mediator is nothing more than a publicity stunt imho. They might just be trying to crack the union.
I think of that old saying “don’t bring a knife to a gun fight” when thinking of the players. Instead it would be “don’t bring millions of dollars to try and outlast billionares in a game of chicken”
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
@KC23, If the season is cancelled and the NHLPA decertifies then the players should find investors to start a summer league. Bye, NHL. I really don’t think the Bettman/owners have bargained in good faith at all.
luc20rules Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
@puck73, Your probably right. Maybe fans will have a lockout of there own to send a message to the owners. Fans don’t return until Bettman gets canned. I don’t think owners can be forced to sell, but it would be a clear message if Bettman in power only averages 13,000 avg fans around the NHL and it jumps to 17,000 immediately after he is canned.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
@puck73, I wonder if its just a 50+% vote by owners to fire Bettman. Or the crazy 3/4 th or whatever to make rule changes and I think approve a CBA.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 6:07 am
@luc20rules,
Either someone mentioned it on the bog or it was in some article, but if I recall correctly, it only takes 8a teams to block any deal by the NHL, including getting rid of Bettman. All he needs is the support of 8the idiot owners and he can continue to destroy hockey.
Niko Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 10:49 am
@luc20rules, ^7 owners, as he is one of them. Terrible structure.
Great. Story Bob thanks so much and please
keep them coming thanks
[Reply]
thanks, BOB, for the nice read…:)
[Reply]
The whole CBA issue is going to come down to one thing – which side has the best powerplay. Hopefully Bettman hires Kompon as an assistant.
[Reply]
Always fun listening to Bob’s stories. Thx, as always.
[Reply]
well, i’ve opined all i care to on the lockout…you can always search the data base here to read them if yr interested…
i cannot see a season take place if things don’t get settled around christmas…i’d say that if december 15 comes up without any new progress or promise, i cannot see the league having a 40-50 game season…to me, a season like that, is a fraud…
finally, a mediator will be brought in…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFUEgFdP5zE
[Reply]
Niko Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 10:47 am
@variable, Agreed, 50 games does not a season make. I want to be hopeful for the mediation, but I really can’t imagine either side budging on the contracting issues.
[Reply]
There Used to be a League
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@KOHO,
Was that the movie with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
@DesertKing, Maybe I do remember there being a peeing contest in that flick.
[Reply]
Still come here way too often out of habit. It would be great to see some articles relevant to what is going on in the hockey world though. Bob, Jim, Nick or Daryl, what are your thoughts on player decertification? Do you view mediation as a publicity ploy, or do you believe both sides will be open to the process getting a deal done? I know Rich walked when he couldn’t interview current players, but I don’t see the harm in getting your takes on these issues. Thanks for filling in, I’m starved for Kings hockey.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 11:04 am
@Niko, They are employed by the team, the team is part of the NHL, therefore they are not allowed to comment on details regarding the lockout.
[Reply]
Niko Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@Sebastian, thanks, thought only the owners were restricted from commenting
[Reply]
Thanks, Bob. Players named Williams have certainly made an impression on Kings history!
[Reply]