some things that the Flames should maybe do

[CaptainCrunch]

We know this rebuild is going to be a three to four year grind for the fans and we're going to see some outright terrible hockey during it. We've already heard some mutterings from fans that they're not going to attend the game for lack of value. We don't want to end up like the Oilers with empty seats and probable problems with season ticket renewals. So what should the Flames do to keep the fans content and feeling valued.

1) Because the Flames are not a cap team like in the years previous and the hockey is not going to be great, do they perhaps lower their ticket prices. A drop of 5% could be a significant reverse tax increase and make the fans feel better about what their spending.

2) Have more specials nights. Maybe a free hot dog night or a 2 for 1 beer night (probably not legal), maybe a free T-shirt night with a clever funny slogan about the rebuild. Like a two shirt deal that has one shirt saying "I love watching rebuilding bad haockey" and the other shirt with an arrow that says "I'm with stupid"

3) Inprove the during the game entertainment. Bring in a band to play music between puck drops. Have better intermission entertainment (maybe we need a gladitorial ring" Theme nights.

4) Cheerleaders and dancers (not a fan of it, but eye candy distracts)

5) Future watch games, maybe bring in Abbotsford to the dome for 5 games, or even the Alaska Aces. It lets the prospects learn what it feels like to play in a major league environment and lets the fans see what's happening.

6) Improved interactive apps for the game. Stats look up, highlight videos up to date shot stats. Polls and contests.

7) Appeal to the younger generation. Have more kids based stuff during the intermissions in the concourse. Maybe even have kiddie kennels so the parents can go have a damn beer in peace.

What would you want as a fan to keep your interest going during a game during a rebuild.

[Otto-matic]

I like the ideas of enhancing the off ice entertainment, the ticket price drop would be welcome. Im sure the prices of the tickets today are driving away some consumers due to the product on the ice.

I wouldnt mind seeing more player signings/meet-greets during the season with all members of the organization. ie Autograph sessions to really bring the flames out into the community and build that excitement around the team during the "dark ages"

[handgroen]

[Locke]

I would wager that the vast majority of the fans couldnt care less about the Abbotsford Heat and especially not about the Alaska Aces.

Ultimately, I think the only solution is exactly what they're doing right now. Okay, they've put a bad stretch of games together recently, but aside from that I'd say that they've been incredibly fun to watch for the most part of this season.

Thats part of the deal with a successful rebuild, its going to be mostly mediocre performances punctuated by the occasional amazing games and followed up with brutal games.

We're on the rollercoaster now kids. You bought the ticket, take the ride.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I like the ideas of enhancing the off ice entertainment, the ticket price drop would be welcome. Im sure the prices of the tickets today are driving away some consumers due to the product on the ice.

I wouldnt mind seeing more player signings/meet-greets during the season with all members of the organization. ie Autograph sessions to really bring the flames out into the community and build that excitement around the team during the "dark ages"

Its funny how different the CFL for example is from the NHL. Fan interaction is carefully monitored and controlled with the players. Meanwhile in the last two or so years of our pod cast we've had 20 Stampeders show up in a fans basement to record a show and speak honestly without a lost of cliches.

We've had the Stamps president take members of our website out for beers and pizza before the first game of the year and he's bought along coaches and members of the staff. We were even given media access by the Stamps.

Its little things like that that push me more into the Stamps fanbase then the Flames right now, there just seems to be this wall between the franchise and the fanbase.

The Flames really need to have events like fan axess. A cool thing would be a fantasy camp where Flames fans could pay some money towards charity and then go to an event with Flames players and coaches where they get tips on their game for their beer league stuff, and get to feel what a actual Flames practice could be like. I'd pay extra to have Bob Hartley screaming at me for sucking.

[Jason14h]

Raising beer prices again would help.

Since watching these games sober is unthinkable

[Muta]

Free sex.

[normtwofinger]

2 for 1 hotdogs would solve everything.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Locke

I would wager that the vast majority of the fans couldnt care less about the Abbotsford Heat and especially not about the Alaska Aces.

Disagree. When the Heat come to Calgary, half the dome appears to be full. That's already 3x as many people that currently go to Heat games in Abbotsford, and there are enough fanboys out there (myself included) that will shell out money to go see our baby team play to see the upcoming talent. I think the Flames have a big enough fan base for that.

Alaska, not so much. But Abbotsford, yes. And my complaint with the Heat coming to Calgary is that they don't come often enough.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Muta

Free sex.

With the Flames....? I dont know if they'd go for that....I always figured you were a dude.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Locke

With the Flames....? I dont know if they'd go for that....I always figured you were a dude.

I am. I wasn't talking about the team... but if that floats your boat, more power to you!

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

2 for 1 heroin beer would solve everything.

Fyp (and all life's other problems)

[You Need a Thneed]

Get rid of the third jerseys, and apologize for ever introducing them. Fire anyone who worked on the plan, and didn't stop it from happening.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its funny how different the CFL for example is from the NHL. Fan interaction is carefully monitored and controlled with the players. Meanwhile in the last two or so years of our pod cast we've had 20 Stampeders show up in a fans basement to record a show and speak honestly without a lost of cliches.

We've had the Stamps president take members of our website out for beers and pizza before the first game of the year and he's bought along coaches and members of the staff. We were even given media access by the Stamps.

Its little things like that that push me more into the Stamps fanbase then the Flames right now, there just seems to be this wall between the franchise and the fanbase.

The Flames really need to have events like fan axess. A cool thing would be a fantasy camp where Flames fans could pay some money towards charity and then go to an event with Flames players and coaches where they get tips on their game for their beer league stuff, and get to feel what a actual Flames practice could be like. I'd pay extra to have Bob Hartley screaming at me for sucking.

I would even love to do a training like a flame camp with Rich, with a few flames as guest speakers/demonstrators of what they actually do during the season.

Don't get me wrong, I'll support the team throughout the rebuild and hopefully see the team become a true contender again in a few years but the team doesn't have that same community feel as it did back in the Dark Ages with the young guns.

Another one would be having discounts at the fanattic with your ticket, I know this may make some STH frustrated but you maybe able to get a few more jerseys/tshirts sold to the non STH crowd.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

A meaningful discount on season tickets.

I don't buy into the process, but I don't have to if it feels like shared pain where everyone is incented to fix it as quickly as possible. If it's just an excuse for the owners to pocket an extra $20m by icing an AHL roster at NHL prices, that will feel a whole lot different.

Or they could rebuild by actually building, and getting a little better each year. I don't think any gimmicks are required in that scenario.

Just me.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Disagree. When the Heat come to Calgary, half the dome appears to be full. That's already 3x as many people that currently go to Heat games in Abbotsford, and there are enough fanboys out there (myself included) that will shell out money to go see our baby team play to see the upcoming talent. I think the Flames have a big enough fan base for that.

Alaska, not so much. But Abbotsford, yes. And my complaint with the Heat coming to Calgary is that they don't come often enough.

I agree, I've done it myself, but the vast majority of fans dont really care and even then, the ticket prices were a small fraction of the cost of Flames tickets. I dont see how that helps the organization in any meaningful way.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Alaska, not so much. But Abbotsford, yes. And my complaint with the Heat coming to Calgary is that they don't come often enough.

Agreed. There should be more Heat games. Cheaper than the Flames games, and at the moment, probably more exciting. They've come twice so far, and they've both been fun to go to.

[Ace]

Make a strong commitment to getting the franchise back to success. Young Gun Era prices until the flames make the playoffs. A win-win for the fans. Team sucks, hockey is cheaper, team is awesome, you get what you pay for!

[CaptainYooh]

Lower food/drink prices; they are ridiculously high for what you're getting.
Add more vendors by substituting most of their own vendors selling crap.
Bring some good pizza instead of the cardboard with tomato sauce being served currently.
Offer a small but meaningful refund to season ticket holders at the end of the season as an apology for the horrible fan experience.

[playmaker]

8) Get rid of those horrible 3rd jerseys with wordmark and finally get rid of black flaming C completely. Flames have one of the best logos in the league so let's take a full advantage of it and stick with two uniforms, preferably something like Bastian Schmulling design:



I'm probably in the minority here but this is what annoys me the most when watching our games.