Downtown LA Preparing For Parade Fit For A King(s)

LOS ANGELES  (CBSLA.com)  —  Hundreds of thousands of hockey fans are expected to line downtown Los Angeles streets Monday afternoon for a royal procession -- a parade to honor the Stanley Cup-winning LA Kings.

In celebration of the team's second-ever Stanley Cup, the parade is expected to pull out all the stops.

KCAL9's Bobby Kaple previewed the action Sunday evening.

Kaple was there as the finishing touches were being put on nine double-decker buses that will carry players, coaches and their families  through the streets filled with cheering throngs.

"We're going to be right here in front of Staples. Can't wait to see that Cup lifted again. That's the greatest part," said fan Mathew Rodriguz.

At noon, the players, coaches and their families will hop aboard the buses at 5th and Figueroa. They will travel south to Chick Hearn Court.

Inside, the players will head inside Staples for a  sold-out rally with 20,000 fans at 1 p.m.

"It's great," says ardent fan John Marriott, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Cup and the players who had such a great run."

Expect a lot of great moments during the parade.

"If there is one thing we do in LA, it's a victory parade," says Michael Roth with AEG.

Of the parade and rally he adds, "The parade is a chance for the fans to hear directly from the Kings players. It's a great moment for the players and the fans."

The team says merchandise at the Kings team shop is selling briskly -- from inflatable Stanley Cups to hats and jerseys.

Kaple spoke to two fans who drove all the way from Orange County for this piece of history.

"We just got our championship hats and shirts," said Michael Jilke.

The parade, which is expected to go about 30-45 minutes, will be carried live on KCAL9 and CBSLA.com. Coverage begins at 11 a.m. with a pre-parade celebration.

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