The LA Times’ Houston Mitchell reports Los Angeles will host a new Arena Football League franchise in 2014, one co-owned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Showing the sort of marketing synergy not seen since they dressed up Dale Torborg (above) like a steroid-addicted proto-Juggalo and called him “The Kiss Demon”, Simmons and Stanley’s team has been dubbed The LA Kiss.
“Season tickets are now on sale for what we know will be some of the most action-packed games ever played at the Honda Center,” said team co-owner and KISS frontman Paul Stanley. “Arena Football is played at a fast and furious pace and making season tickets available now for the budget-friendly price of $99 gives a whole new meaning to bang for the buck.”
All LA KISS season-ticket buyers will be invited to a free KISS concert to take place at Honda Center next year.
“As a fast-paced, high-action band this partnership with the AFL was an obvious fit for us,” said co-owner Gene Simmons of KISS. “With Arena Football, you are much closer to the action — sitting in the front row is like putting a folding chair on the hash mark of an NFL game — and it’s one of the only sports where you can experience this level of intensity. Attending an LA KISS game in 2014 will be similar to a live KISS show, with thrilling, heart-pounding action.”
I don’t think the comparison to a Kiss show is entirely out of place. At least half the players are considered anonymous or replaceable. In all seriousness, folks, having a strong franchise in the LA market would be a boon for the AFL, and perhaps the league would be well advised to tap into Simmons’ long-standing resentment towards the Mercer Arts Center scene of the early 1970’s ; the LA Kiss vs. the New York Dolls would be a natural rivalry.