I've been a flames fan from day 1. I watched games in the corral, lived through The battle of Alberta, was on the edge of my seat in '86 and loving the cup win in '89. Living through the young guns era and watching Paul Kruse get beat up every night. Then as a young adult loving the spring of 2004 and all it's craziness.
I have started to lose interest as well. I haven't watched a full game in a long time. I don't look forward to ending the day watching a game anymore.
The Flames slow start year after year, and then figuring it out in Feb/Mar when it doesn't matter is getting old and cost them a shot at some high end franchise players.
I don't know what a penalty is anymore.
The physical aspect of the game is gone, this started to happen right after the lockout. This single aspect is probably the biggest turn off for me.
A clean body check ends up with a fight protecting the player who was hit and no instigator penalty.
The craptastic Sportsnet broadcast. This is probably the #2 turnoff for me. The sound issue is unacceptable. The personalities are awful aside from Hextall (now gone), Hrudey/Ball.
The player interviews are unbearable to watch. "Pucks Deep" "Give 100%", "Play our Game", "Get pucks to the net" etc. There are no personalities like Roenick, Fluery etc. The media lobes them the same easy question every time. (I did enjoy the Hartley quotes/interviews)
The debacle of CalgaryNext and a proposal/presentation/website that looks like a Jr. High student put together.
This years coaching staff is in way over their heads. Their is nothing to show they can win a string of games in a row, they can't even compete for several periods in a row. The season is over and it's not even half way through November. Grossman over Kulak ?? Chaisson STILL on the first line, that experiment failed 4+ games ago!!! Letting Colborne walk for nothing? Bottom of the league, in almost every stat, and spending at the Cap??
It would cost me $300+ to take my family to a game and the team is out for a Sunday skate. The atmosphere in the dome is horrible, the food choices are awful, and the physical ice surface is embarrassing.
I will always be a fan of this team but no where near the way I used to be.
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