[thymebalm]

Places I rank as good bets for crowds

1) Calgary - I don't know what rink you put them in, but there is no better market for Flames hockey than the city of Calgary. Especially as the drafting improves and the AHL becomes more and more competitive. It's already a -very- good league. Probably the 3rd best talent pool in the world. I'm priced out of season tickets to the Flames, but I'd jump for a pair of Heat Season's passes.

2) Saskatchewan - Lots of Flames fans in the province of Saskatchewan, and no professional hockey. City size doesn't really seem to matter if the allegiance isn't there. There are already 5 WHL teams there, but if done right, having their AHL team there would improve scouting in the dub at the same time as building a legitimate fan base.

3) Phoenix/Arizona - Many Albertan refugees wind up in the state of Arizona, and it's the one other spot where Flames fans seem to show up in some numbers. It would be an imported market, but I still think it would outsell Abbotsford.

4) Lethbridge - Obvious territorial conflicts with junior again, but a fanbase willing to watch Flames hockey in southern Alberta none the less.

5) Idaho/Montana - Way more work to create fans, but has the proximity and lacks some of the other deterring factors concerning saturated markets.