Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
I'm sure travel costs matter, but in a holistic view of their total expenses I doubt it will be a huge differential. Accoms are probably a bigger line item than bus travel for most teams...flying costs will probably be similar to accom costs, maybe even slightly less depending on scheduling and number of flights required.
The Abbotsford Heat spent their first 2 years in a division with 6 teams from Manitoba and the Great Lakes.
Then they spent a year with OKC, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston...then back to 4 Great Lakes teams, then back to OKC+2 Texas teams+Charlotte for their final year.
I'm sure CSEC didn't enjoy those costs, especially drawing under 4k a night, but they didn't pull the plug after a year or two like most of their other stops since St John (though I'm not sure about specific ownership details). I'd guess that AHL execs were working towards the California/Pacific division for a while and Abbotsford was part of that plan, but it took a few years longer to actually materialize.
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Well, don't the Flames also have to subsidize other AHL teams flying here now? So economics are out the window, they pay more for travel costs for them and others, maybe make a bit more money and some less expenses than Stockton by hosting on home rink and synergy with the CSEC, but they aren't coming out ahead.
But I agree with T99, and as I said earlier, imo this is a shorter term solution until a more viable long term solution presents itself or can be developed.
And really, each time this team has moved going back to Quad Cities days there's always been discussion on bringing them to Calgary, and the CSEC never has.
I don't think anything has changed to make it more viable here now, outside of just not having a solid option anywhere else next year and in combination with not forcing itself into another situation like Stockton that isn't ideal but then be stuck with it.