Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
Though we should be careful not to assume that the wider fan base would accept a re-build, and one as long as it could be, with the same warmth that hard core fans on here would.
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Agreed that we shouldn't make that assumption.
Calgary is market where there doesn't need to be a really really good on-ice product for the hardcore fanbase to fill the seats and follow the team, but it's not a big enough market where there would still be a significant casual, wider fan-base that would continue to support the team when it sucks. I mean just look at the Sutter hire...bring back a former popular coach and the excitement level from the hardcore fans goes through the roof before he even coaches a game.
Ownership knows this. They know they just need to give the hardcore fans a little bit of hope and they will fill the seats. On the other hand, they also know that they lose all of the casual fans by not making the playoffs. So they do what they've been doing...Barely make the playoffs and lure in all of the casual fans. Keep the hardcore fans by giving them just a little bit of hope. Easiest way to do this is hire a new coach, hire a new GM, acquire a recognizable name, sign a recognizable free agent...Which is exactly what they've been doing on repeat for years. And why this team is stuck in mediocrity.