Quote:
Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow
Uh, yeah.. this is what happens when you make the finals in 2004 and established a fanbase.
Pre 2003-2004 Oiler fans outdrew Flames fans at the dome regularly during BofA's and the team had a foot in Portland.
The Flames spending today has more to do with that Finals run than the lockout resolving anything.
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Well, the first year after the lockout the Flames payroll was almost identical to before. But it did jump the next year. But maybe it's somewhat more the case that the cap amount met what the Flames budget may well have been. I suppose player agents could also make an argument that "look, we've now leveled the playing field so your part of the deal is to spend to that level, or thereabouts.".