Frustrated right now, but really, I think this is often the outcome of hundreds of millions of tax dollars going into sports arenas. Went back and found this old post from flamesnation:
https://flamesnation.ca/2017/09/13/h...na-was-funded/
and I was right in thinking only Alberta hockey teams have gotten direct funding for their arenas from tax dollars. (Yes, I know there are indirect tax breaks and Quebec and Hamilton ponied up tax money to try to seduce teams to move to those cities.)
Hockey revenues are down and most teams are losing money during Covid. Governments aren't doing any better, and so neither wants to pony up more money.
The Flames aren't moving. The Canadian markets are the healthiest in the league. After Arizona there are other U.S. teams like Columbus who will eventually need to be shifted as well. Yes, many American teams can run full capacity--which for a lot of them is $25 tickets that include parking and a concession voucher. The Canadian TV contract is worth more than the U.S. one, even though we only have 1/4 of the teams.
Not worried about the move--still annoyed that the Oilers got their building half tax-funded while we wait for yet more twitter fighting until finally something gets done. It will be done eventually, though maybe with a different model, and maybe even a different ownership.