Kings, Galaxy to Visit White House

Ice hockey and soccer will be go together to the White House to be honored when the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles Galaxy visit in what will be the first time two professional championship teams will be feted at one White House ceremony, said Kings Governor Tim Leiweke Thursday.

A tentative date has been proposed and "we're waiting for the president to see if that works for his schedule," Leiweke said at a Staples Center news conference to discuss the team's plans for the season.

"When we were with him (President Barack Obama) last year with the Galaxy, I told him we'd be back," Leiweke said. "Then I saw him during the campaign and we laughed about the fact we predicted we'd be back." The Galaxy and Kings are owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group.

Famed British midfielder David Beckham, whose six-season stint with the Galaxy ended with MLS Cup 2012, will join the team for the ceremony, Leiweke said.

As for the Kings' championship banner, Leiweke said that unlike the Los Angeles Lakers' championship banners, this one will be hung from the rafters, instead of the wall, providing room for additional banners. The banner will be unveiled at the team's opening game at Staples Center, expected to be Jan. 19. Due to a recently resolved NHL lockout, the Kings' schedule was reduced from 82 to 48 games.

The Kings also announced that McDonald's will serve as the team's first season presenting sponsor for both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

McDonald's will be the presenting sponsor of the opening day giveaway of a replica of the banner emblematic of the team's Stanley Cup championship, receive logo placement on practice jerseys and press backdrops and be integrated into a variety of community and grassroots events.

"McDonald's has been a great longtime supporter of the Kings and we are very excited to extend and enhance our relationship with them," said Luc Robitaille, the Kings' president of Business Operations.

Leiweke also announced that the Kings will donate $500,000—a figure that will be matched by McDonald's—that will go to four charities: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, the Boys and Girls Club of America and City Year Los Angeles.

"We feel that it is important to not only make a significant commitment back to our community but to help facilitate a sizeable charitable effort that everybody can get behind, including our players, our fans and our partners in particular," Robitaille said.

The Kings will also donate a Stanley Cup championship ring for each of the charities to auction or raffle off, Leiweke said.