Q & A : The Facts and Figures of Anaheim’s New Addition

Question: When will the new hockey team begin play?

Answer: The Disney hockey franchise could begin playing as early as the fall of 1993 and no later than the fall of 1994.

Q: When will the arena be completed?

A: Next June or July.

Q: How many seats are in the arena?

A: 19,400 seats for center-stage events, but 17,250 for rink sports such as hockey. There also are 82 luxury boxes.

Q: Wasn’t the National Hockey League’s deadline for the filing of expansion franchise application entries Nov. 15?

A: It was. But unlike other professional sports leagues, the NHL is more of a mom-and-pop operation, and its board of governors in effect chose to ignore its own rule and ignored the deadline.

Q: How can I buy tickets?

A: Ogden Management already has a waiting list of more than 5,000 people interested in buying season tickets and luxury boxes. The list, kept in the order in which people inquired, will be turned over to the hockey franchise. But Ogden already has sold 20% of its premium club seats at $4,200 to $5,200 a year and 30% of its luxury boxes at $36,000 to $68,000 a year. Prices of both will increase now that a franchise has been acquired. To get on the mailing list or to buy premium seats or luxury boxes call (714) 385-9061 or write Anaheim Arena, P.O. Box 6077, Anaheim 92816.

Q: How much will the Disney Co. have to pay Bruce McNall’s Los Angeles Kings for Southern California territorial rights, and how much will it have to pay the National Hockey League as the franchise fee?

A: $25 million to each.

Q: On what is the franchise agreement contingent?

A: The franchise hinges on Disney’s selling a sufficient number of season tickets and making timely payments on its $50 million in fees. It is also contingent on a deal with the Anaheim Arena and the signing of a contract with McNall.

Q: How does this affect Disney’s expansion plans?

A: “There’s no effect,” said Bret Colson, Anaheim public information spokesman. “Ogden is handling all negotiations for hockey expansion here. We are treating (the hockey franchise and the Disneyland expansion) as separate and independent projects.”

Q: How much did the arena cost to build?

A: $103 million in bonds issued by the city, to be repaid from profits by Ogden Corp.

Q: How will the Anaheim franchise affect attendance at Los Angeles Kings games at the Forum in Inglewood?

A: About 17% of the Kings’ season ticket holders live in Orange County. Although it is unknown how many of these fans might defect to Anaheim’s new team, the $25 million Disney would pay the Kings in essence buys the right to compete for the same Southern California fans.