The Kings at 60: From 4,000 empty seats to a $3.33-billion NHL franchise

"I've gotten to the point where I hate going to games. I guess I'm showing my age," said Rothenberg, who, at 87, is more spry and active than many people who have had half as many birthdays.

What matters is that Rothenberg was at the Kings' first home opener, a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers before 7,023 people — and 4,000 empty seats — at the Long Beach Convention Center in 1967. As vice president and general counsel for Jack Kent Cooke , the visionary owner who brought hockey to L.A., Rothenberg was responsible for selling his boss's vision to a wary public.

Alan Rothenberg speaks during an event in Miami on Nov. 12, 2025. (Eva Marie Uzcategui / Getty Images)