Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Arena negotiation discussion. UPD: Flames release their proposal

Cappy · 03-13-2018, 06:20 PM

I know some people on here seem to think that none of us could live in Calgary without the Flames, but in all seriousness the team leaving would probably sting alot less than it did for a team like Winnipeg.

The games are far more expensive now than they were in 1995, and most people are priced out of actually attending games. I make a good living, but cannot justify paying for my own tickets more than once or twice a year. The majority of my visits are corporate seats which, again, i wouldnt pay for. The prices for everything are going to increase 20% in a new rink. Creating further barriers to entry and few justifications.

Since 1995, access to professional sports has increased dramatically. All 82 team games are viewable in some form other than attending, and all games for other teams are viewable as well. This also extends to the increasing saturation of all other sports into previously dormant markets - NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS. We can watch all these leagues, all the games at home, on our phones, at a bar etc. I was a Flames fan living in Northern Alberta in the late 90's/early 2000's and the best i could do was catch the highlights on the score most nights...

The saturation of other sports into the market has also presented another important factor to, atleast my, willingness to not jump to apocalyptic conclusions: I cheer for teams in other cities, in leagues where Calgary has no presence. I'm a Jays fan and a Houston Texans fan. I hate the Yanks and Sox. I hate the Colts and the Titans. I get emotional when these teams do well (mostly they don't) and poorly (mostly they do) and the fact that i dont live in toronto or houston changes nothing about my allegiance to these teams (i hate the astros). Proximity has nothing to do with it either. there are closer teams (Mariners and Seahawks? yuck!)

So, the way i see it (in my subjective way) is that a group of owners want a public subsidy to keep their business (allegedly) afloat over a business model that has no... business... being a business model, and the only reason they can actually justify the subsidy is by tugging at my heart strings over the love a team.

I ain't buying it. and for the reasons above, I personally don't think its the end of the world. Will it suck? of course, but ill get over it. Will i quit watching the NHL? no, plenty of ways to watch the sport. Will i cheer for the Oil? hell no. I would probably cheer for an expansion team or maybe keep cheering for the Houston Flames (Edwards wouldn't own it anymore). Am i about to lose my collective $%#% because the team is going to move? no.

03-13-2018, 06:20 PM	#4843
Cappy #1 Goaltender Join Date: Jan 2015 Exp:	I know some people on here seem to think that none of us could live in Calgary without the Flames, but in all seriousness the team leaving would probably sting alot less than it did for a team like Winnipeg. The games are far more expensive now than they were in 1995, and most people are priced out of actually attending games. I make a good living, but cannot justify paying for my own tickets more than once or twice a year. The majority of my visits are corporate seats which, again, i wouldnt pay for. The prices for everything are going to increase 20% in a new rink. Creating further barriers to entry and few justifications. Since 1995, access to professional sports has increased dramatically. All 82 team games are viewable in some form other than attending, and all games for other teams are viewable as well. This also extends to the increasing saturation of all other sports into previously dormant markets - NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS. We can watch all these leagues, all the games at home, on our phones, at a bar etc. I was a Flames fan living in Northern Alberta in the late 90's/early 2000's and the best i could do was catch the highlights on the score most nights... The saturation of other sports into the market has also presented another important factor to, atleast my, willingness to not jump to apocalyptic conclusions: I cheer for teams in other cities, in leagues where Calgary has no presence. I'm a Jays fan and a Houston Texans fan. I hate the Yanks and Sox. I hate the Colts and the Titans. I get emotional when these teams do well (mostly they don't) and poorly (mostly they do) and the fact that i dont live in toronto or houston changes nothing about my allegiance to these teams (i hate the astros). Proximity has nothing to do with it either. there are closer teams (Mariners and Seahawks? yuck!) So, the way i see it (in my subjective way) is that a group of owners want a public subsidy to keep their business (allegedly) afloat over a business model that has no... business... being a business model, and the only reason they can actually justify the subsidy is by tugging at my heart strings over the love a team. I ain't buying it. and for the reasons above, I personally don't think its the end of the world. Will it suck? of course, but ill get over it. Will i quit watching the NHL? no, plenty of ways to watch the sport. Will i cheer for the Oil? hell no. I would probably cheer for an expansion team or maybe keep cheering for the Houston Flames (Edwards wouldn't own it anymore). Am i about to lose my collective $%#% because the team is going to move? no.