Calgary Flames Experiencing Attendance Issues

[Shonky]

Oilers took the soul of the flames and then promptly walked off a cliff themselves. Trash took out the trash. Woohoo

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I’m not trolling, isn’t it safe to say a lot of teams are struggling on attendance currently?

This can't be strictly a Canadian vs. U.S.-based team thing. I'd imagine there are teams in the States struggling similar in attendance.

I think it's a deeper rooted picture here. Games are perfectly watchable in the comfort of your own home, which avoids all the time spent travelling to and from (plus gas/transport costs). Ticket prices are ridiculous, as are concessions. The economy is in the dumps, and people can't justify spending hundreds of dollars watching a sporting event than putting food on the table and heating up their houses, amongst other things. That is before even considering that the game itself is a dud and waste of time and money.

As the NHL is a gate-driven league, factors such as these will affect the league more greatly than the others.

 

[HighLifeMan]

OK, but you were saying that Canadian cities would be selling out. There are literally tons of $8 and $9 seats available for a game in two days. So, I don't believe your statement is at all true.

8 USD + taxes and fee's and you are looking at roughly $20 CAD per person to sit in arguably the worst seats in pro sports, all while having the luxury of paying $15 for parking, and drinking $12 beers.

People don't realize just how bad of a viewing experience it is in the nosebleeds in Calgary.

 

[WTG]

OK, but you were saying that Canadian cities would be selling out. There are literally tons of $8 and $9 seats available for a game in two days. So, I don't believe your statement is at all true.

Fair enough, point heard. I think Calgary also has a problem because the Saddledome is a terrible viewing experience, those seats that are 9 bucks have such a bad view. Can barely see over the heads and you can only see a fraction of the ice. From looking at it the Florida stadium has damn good views.

 

[Terry Yake]

move them to atlanta

 

[Osakahaus]

This is probably the worst thing that can happen for any team also: Apathy

Calgary might as well start looking at the reality of relocation, because the Flames cannot afford more years of medicority with bad contracts and players who are shuffled around constantly.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Fair enough, point heard. I think Calgary also has a problem because the Saddledome is a terrible viewing experience, those seats that are 9 bucks have such a bad view. Can barely see over the heads and you can only see a fraction of the ice. From looking at it the Florida stadium has damn good views.

Never been to a game in Calgary or Miami, so I can't compare exact views, but seats half-way down at center ice are about ~$50. Similar seats in Florida are the same after accounting for exchange rates.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

8 USD + taxes and fee's and you are looking at roughly $20 CAD per person to sit in arguably the worst seats in pro sports, all while having the luxury of paying $15 for parking, and drinking $12 beers.

People don't realize just how bad of a viewing experience it is in the nosebleeds in Calgary.

Junk fees and the cost of parking and concessions are certainly awful. Hate them. However, they're bad across the board. Every team has $20 parking and $12 beers. Junk fees costing 40%-ish are everywhere too. Sucks.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

move them to atlanta

I don't want anyone to lose their teams. It is the worst (2X here, Whale and Thrash).

You should know all about that.

 

[ForumNamePending]

It's early, so lots of time for things to really crater, but does averaging 17,000+/game really qualify as having attendance issues?

I guess it's relative... Post (big) lockout, regardless of how the team was doing, the Flames went 15 or so seasons playing at or near capacity (~19,000), and finishing top 10 in league attendance every year. So on one hand, I guess when compared to previous seasons, the Flames do have attendance issues, but on the other hand, if averaging only 17 and change a game is the new thread worthy threshold, I expect we will be seeing a lot of attendance threads going forward.

 

[McShogun99]

Canada turning 3rd world infront of our eyes. All part of the plan lmao

Just wait until the basic universal income kicks in and we become the next Venezuela.

 

[McShogun99]

Just looked on StubHub and tickets are available for the Stars @ Flames game on Wednesday night for $8.

Even an $8 ticket adds up when you factor in parking and concessions. Bare minimum is $20 for a pop and slice. Beer and a burger is like $40. I usually spend about $100 per person when I’m at a game for drinks and food.

8 USD + taxes and fee's and you are looking at roughly $20 CAD per person to sit in arguably the worst seats in pro sports, all while having the luxury of paying $15 for parking, and drinking $12 beers.

People don't realize just how bad of a viewing experience it is in the nosebleeds in Calgary.

I bought the cheapest seats when the UFC came to Calgary and I had an excellent view of the back of a giant screen.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Even an $8 ticket adds up when you factor in parking and concessions. Bare minimum is $20 for a pop and slice. Beer and a burger is like $40. I usually spend about $100 per person when I’m at a game for drinks and food.

Oh, totally. I certainly don't make other's finances my business. I was just replying to someone knocking on Florida prices (for some reason) saying Canadian teams would sell out if they were cheaper. I was just pointing out that certainly isn't the case.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Honestly, sunbelt fans can just have the entire NHL if they want it. Move the Leafs to Ft Lauderdale and the Habs to Tucson. See what it's worth, this empire of dirt. This ponzi scheme league has reached the point where it can't sell hockey to Canadians, lmao. When you can't sell BBQ's in Texas, you know the apocalypse is nigh.

There's already a team in Ft. Lauderdale, Sunrise, but same difference. Move them to Macon.

 

[_habsfan9]

Kinda a click baity article.

 

[dealwithit]

Any idea if this is due to the current economic climate and insane cost of living in Canada?

 

[iCanada]

8 USD + taxes and fee's and you are looking at roughly $20 CAD per person to sit in arguably the worst seats in pro sports, all while having the luxury of paying $15 for parking, and drinking $12 beers.

People don't realize just how bad of a viewing experience it is in the nosebleeds in Calgary.

Yeah the saddledome is something. There is a reason there are so many flies.

 

[NVious]

Canadian teams strengths:
Costing the consumer a lot of money

Canadian team weaknesses:
The team
Cost of not just the tickets but also everything in the arena
Not raising the prices of everything forever

 

[ORRFForever]

These threads all pathetically devolve into American based fans making wise-cracks about Canadian teams relocating to the US.

Take a bow.

It is mostly about the economy and about Canadian teams living high on the hog for so long and getting away with inflating their prices for so long. It is going to take some time for prices to deflate a bit.

It is not the same dynamic in the US. Where tickets are being given away at the best of times. Anyone in a Canadian city would go to an NHL game if the price is right. It is not from a lack of interest.

Well said.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Any idea if this is due to the current economic climate and insane cost of living in Canada?

Partially, yeah. Cost of living is high, the team stinks, the Saddledome is a dump, two of Calgary's biggest stars left or were traded. Parking is expensive, food is expensive, beers are $12 apiece. Lots of things combining.

Canadian teams strengths:
Costing the consumer a lot of money

Canadian team weaknesses:
The team
Cost of not just the tickets but also everything in the arena
Not raising the prices of everything forever

Canadian teams don't care about growing their fanbases at all. They take it for granted that every Canadian loves hockey from the womb, so they'll gleefully rebuild forever and grift their fanbase for every dollar... though that might just be Edmonton.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

It's only going to get worse. This is just the start of Flames ownership still refuses to rebuild..

Stop going to the games and make them feel the hit in their pocket books.

 

[tarheelhockey]

8 USD + taxes and fee's and you are looking at roughly $20 CAD per person to sit in arguably the worst seats in pro sports, all while having the luxury of paying $15 for parking, and drinking $12 beers.

People don't realize just how bad of a viewing experience it is in the nosebleeds in Calgary.

I get your point, but $15 parking is a bargain.

 

[PromisedLand]

serious question:

Give the cost of living, how many folks are actually spending on hockey relates stuff?
- tickets/merchandise/center-ice/cable/etc...
???

May be we should do a poll?
What % of your after tax income are you spending on hockey currently? less than before, same, more than before

???

Am seriously curious

 

[norrisnick]

What I don't understand is why in the world anyone would eat/drink at a game? That's like having a 2hr flight and choosing to eat at the airport. Eat/drink before you get to the game. You'll survive the 3hrs at the arena.

 

[StreetHawk]

It's only going to get worse. This is just the start of Flames ownership still refuses to rebuild..

Stop going to the games and make them feel the hit in their pocket books.

The counter argument against what Chipman said recently about not rebuilding is Apathy from the fans because they don’t see the team improving to be a cup contender. It’s the same old borderline PO team and bounced in round 1 if they make it. At some point the fans will grow tired of it.

Flames the same way. Canucks were like that with Aquilini. Not commuting to rebuild and Frankie comes out at the start of 19-20 saying the dark times are over only to have 21, 22, 23 seasons end with horrific starts to the season.