Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

At the Rink: Los Angeles Kings' Wanton Davis Adjusts to His First NHL Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic

16/04/2021

At the Rink: Los Angeles Kings' Wanton Davis Adjusts to His First NHL Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic His goal is to celebrate the community when fans return on April 20 By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor

Friday, April 16, 2021 - 9:52 am

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

The National Hockey League was the last of the four major U.S. sports leagues to host a non-bubble regular season. As fans gradually make their return to the seats, how is that affecting in-venue productions and digital content? Similar to At the Ballpark, On the Gridiron, and On the Hardwood, At the Rink looks at the operations of NHL organizations to see how they are coping with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and adapting to a sense of normalcy.

Los Angeles Kings Executive Producer, live events, Wanton Davis had dipped his toe in the sports water before, having spent time with NBC Sports, but, after being named to the L.A. Kings position at the beginning of the season, he began his first foray into in-venue production. For a first-timer working amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the job can be a bit daunting, but, as a professional working in his hometown, he dove in with enthusiasm and zeal.

Starting a new job during the pandemic has been a bit weird, he says. The most challenging part is not having that face-to-face interaction that you would normally have.

MORE AT THE RINK INTERVIEWS:

Tampa Bay Lightning's Stanley Cup Banner Ceremony Serves as Reminder of Normalcy During Unusual Year

Toronto Maple Leafs Follow Production Blueprint From 2020 NHL Bubble at Scotiabank Arena

Top-Ranked Colorado Avalanche Revel in the Return of Fans

Philadelphia Flyers Flex Potential of 4K Kinetic Centerhung as Fans Return to Wells Fargo Center

Nearly 20 Years in Manitoba, Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Balharry Reflects on Productions at Bell MTS Place

In NHL's North Division, Calgary Flames Keep Battle of Alberta Alive in Empty Scotiabank Saddledome

Detroit Red Wings Cover Motor City Storylines With Three Digital Shows, Hockeytown Home Ice

During First Two Months on the Road, San Jose Sharks Develop Engaging Content in Different Ways

Carolina Hurricanes Sidestep Water Leak To Welcome Fans Back to PNC Arena

Vegas Golden Knights Offer Fortress At Home, Debut Studio for 2020-21 NHL Season

Nashville Predators Harness the Passion of Smashville' at Bridgestone Arena

First-Year Experience: Zoom Calls Replace In-Person Introductions Los Angeles Kings' Wanton Davis is nearing completion of his first regular season in the National Hockey League.

In what has become commonplace for new employees at any company since March 2020, In-person introductions have been replaced with virtual happy hours and meet-and-greets through a computer screen. At the start of the season, conversations with his new colleagues about the execution of a videoboard show came a bit naturally: with his expertise in production and entertainment, the topics were east to grasp and understand. But developing the camaraderie that is relied on daily was a little more difficult.

A lot of those water cooler' conversations don't really occur now, so you have to schedule time to speak to people, says Davis. On the flip side, starting during a pandemic in a space that I'm still figuring out has been fun and rewarding.

If the pandemic had any sort of silver lining, it's the gift of time and experimentation. In-venue production is still new to Davis, which allows him to bring a fresh set of eyes to a concept and a different mentality to a practice that has been standard since the invention of the LED display. Sometimes, his lack of experience has been his greatest asset.

I've been able to see things that work and others that don't necessarily work, he notes. It has been exciting to play around with various elements of the show.

Historic Building: In-Venue Show To Match the Legacy of Staples Center The crew is still using lights and music to greet the players on the ice.

Opened in 1998, Staples Center has been home to 11 championship-winning teams: six NBA titles for the Los Angeles Lakers, three WNBA titles for the Los Angeles Sparks, and two Stanley Cups for the Kings. In a building filled with history, Davis is working in one of Tinseltown's most famous sports venues. All season long, he has revamped the game-day experience to reflect the city's history and honor its legacy.

I've tried to focus on and implement an L.A.-centric show, he says. I believe that we're just starting to get our feet wet.

In a major market like Los Angeles, there are many activities and sights to see. With eight other professional organizations based in the area, including two in the same arena, it's an arduous exercise to create a setting that stands out. Drawing on a career that has also included positions in the music industry, Davis is curating a program that brings out the flair of the city.

Our audience is exposed to a lot of different forms of entertainment, he points out. I want to bring all of that together and reward them for being Kings fans. Every time you step foot into the Staples Center, you're not going to forget where you are because we're looking to make it into an L.A. party.

Life of the Party: Honoring the Community at Fans' Return on April 20 Wanton Davis oversees the in-venue production from high above the ice at the legendary Staples Center.

Staples Center will open its doors to a limited crowd for the Kings' final eight home games, starting on April 20 vs. the Anaheim Ducks. After nearly a full regular season, Davis will finally get a taste of what it's like to fire up an NHL fanbase. With a little under a week left until this special game, Davis and his crew are hard at work to finalize their production plan.

After the extended period away f
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/04/16/at-the-rink-los-angeles-kings-w...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

17/12/2025

The EU Investigative Journalism Award 2025: bold reporting, regional impact, and rise in public-interest journalism

Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...

17/12/2025

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable Night

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable ...

17/12/2025

ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCast

ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCastThe series, powered by Adrenaline TruPlay AI, launches Dec. 22 and runs through ...

17/12/2025

Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network

Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on ...

17/12/2025

Ring In the New Year With New Playlists Mixed by Artists, and More Spotify Hacks

The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...

17/12/2025

Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station Links Toledo Walleye and Mud Hens Venues with...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

17/12/2025

Broadcast and Streaming Serve Up a Historic Month of TV in Nielsen's The Gauge

Audiences Watched Over 103 Billion Minutes of TV on Thanksgiving Day NFL Games ...

17/12/2025

EdgeBeam Wireless Makes Initial Sale, Expands Executive Team

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Warner Bros. Discovery Tells Shareholders to Reject Paramount Bid

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

NDI, Zoom Collaborate on Seamless Connectivity

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Broadcasters Mark Momentous Year of Challenges Amid Viewing Fragmentation

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Tennessee Public Broadcaster to Trial AI Metadata

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Chyron Unveils New AXIS Maps

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Broadcast Solutions Group Acquires PMT Professional Motion Technology

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Study: U.S. Pay TV, Video Revenue to Total $190.7B in 2030

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Texas Attorney General Takes Aim at 5 TV Manufacturers

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

DirecTV Wins Appeal in Retransmission Price-Fixing Suit

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

E.W. Scripps Rejects Sinclair Takeover Bid

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration

KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration Andrew Choi and EJAE, who voiced the film's main characters and contributed to its soundtr...

17/12/2025

Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 January

Wednesday 17 December 2025 Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...

17/12/2025

Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The Brave Heroics Of The Customs Officers In Taskaree

Back to All News Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The...

17/12/2025

Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Netflix on January 9th

Back to All News Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Ne...

17/12/2025

Netflix Unveils First Look at 'Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole' Premiering on March 26, 2026

Back to All News Netflix Unveils First Look at Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole Pr...

17/12/2025

Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation

Back to All News Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation Business 17 December 2025 Global Link copied to clipboard After Careful Revi...

17/12/2025

RT announces appointment of Kathy Fox to role of Commissioning Editor, Documentaries and Features

RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...

17/12/2025

UC San Diego Lab Advances Generative AI Research With NVIDIA DGX B200 System

The Hao AI Lab research team at the University of California San Diego - at the forefront of pioneering AI model innovation - recently received an NVIDIA DGX B...

17/12/2025

Into the Omniverse: OpenUSD and NVIDIA Halos Accelerate Safety for Robotaxis, Physical AI Systems

Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...

17/12/2025

The Glitterball awaits: Dancing with the Stars unveils dance pairings for 2026

With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...

16/12/2025

Stranger Things' Playlist Takeover Challenges Fans to Decode Clues and Unlock Exclusive Volume 2' Content

Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...

16/12/2025

Spotify and NAVER Bring Music Integrations and Premium Benefits to Korea

Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...

16/12/2025

Around the World With Spotify Wrapped: 2025 Fan Destinations You Had to See

2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...

16/12/2025

L3Harris Delivers Most Powerful Thrusters for NASA's Lunar Gateway

Three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, supplied by L3Harris Technologies, form the core of Gateway's propulsion system. Pictured i...

16/12/2025

Palantir and L3Harris: Reindustrializing Defense Through AI-Powered Production

The challenge facing America's defense industrial base is not just about speed - its about rebuilding the foundation that makes speed possible. Our nations ...

16/12/2025

NFL Boosts Broadcast, Streaming Viewing Share in November

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

16/12/2025

Spanish Broadcaster Updates Playout With Pebble Solutions

SEVILLE, Spain Canal Sur, the public broadcasting service for Andalusia, Spain, has completed a total technology refresh based on Pebble's resilient, softwa...

16/12/2025

Telescript International Buys Prompter Software Company

NEW YORK Teleprompting hardware provider Telescript International has acquired all software code and intellectual property previously owned by Telescript West. ...

16/12/2025

Ookla: T-Mobile Is Fastest Fixed Wireless Access Provider

As cable operators face increased competition from 5G fixed wireless access providers, a new report from Ookla Research finds that T-Mobile is the FWA speed lea...

16/12/2025

Apple TV App for Android Now Supports Google Cast

Apple has announced a major upgrade to the Apple TV app for device owners outside the Apple ecosystem with news that the Apple TV app for Android now supports G...

16/12/2025

PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia and Space42 Explore Partnership to Extend 5G Direct-to-Device Services

Space42 grows Direct-to-Device partner ecosystem through a Memorandum of Underst...

16/12/2025

VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 Results of Both VEON and Kyivstar

16 Dec 2025 VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...

16/12/2025

VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acquisition of Solar Power Company

16 Dec 2025 VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...

16/12/2025

Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro Star in Swedish Thriller Series Bytet'

Back to All News Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro...

16/12/2025

Docu-reality 'My Korean Boyfriend' Gets a Trailer and Premiere Date: January 1st. Is Real Life Really like a K-drama?

Back to All News Docu-reality My Korean Boyfriend Gets a Trailer and Premiere D...

16/12/2025

Czech TV Elevates Video Streaming with Harmonic

Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...

16/12/2025

RT Sport Manager of the Year Nominees 2025 Revealed

RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December. On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...

16/12/2025

Music legend Brian Kennedy revealed as the twelfth and final contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...

15/12/2025

Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From The Famous Group

Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From Th...

15/12/2025

2026 Sundance Film Festival Reveals 54 Titles Selected for Short Film Program Presented by Ketel One Vodka

Top L-R: La Tierra Del Valor (The Home of the Brave), Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawe...

15/12/2025

L3Harris to Provide Assured Communications for US Air Force's Survivable Airborne Operations Center Program

L3Harris will leverage 15 years of experience supporting the E-4B Nightwatch and...