Conceptually, the relationship between the flames and STH's is partially one of the flames transferring risk to STH's.
The flames sell 41 games up-front, and the STH take the risk of those games over the course of the season. If the flames suck and are out of the playoffs, STH's should be left with games that have very little demand and will lose money on tickets, while the flames have guarenteed revenue for those seats. In contrast, when the flames are good, STHs get the upside. And over the long-run, the STH's should breakeven on selling secondary tickets. And, in return for taking on this risk, STH's are offered two things: (1) better seats within a price point and (2) ROFR on playoffs and ticket renewals.
The problem right now for STH's is that the flames are good, and you can't get anywhere near breakeven on season tickets. Its just not a good value proposition - especially if you have bad seats within a price point.
The problem for the flames is that if enough STH's don't renew tickets, you very quickly turn into a situation that the Ottawa Senators are facing. A lack of a season ticket base translates into 80% capacity and reliance on game day sales. And that in turn makes it less attractive to own season tickets and a vicious cycle begins. So the flames could ignore the secondary market, but they do so at their peril.
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