Can the Flames afford to keep losing?

[burn_baby_burn]

Saturday was the first game I was able to make it to this year, and I have to say the Dome was like a ghost town. I'm not talking about how loud the crowd was during the game. I mean, the concessions, the restaurant's, the concourse was dead.

The press level was half full at best. The Saddleroom restaurant, which is usually very busy 20 minutes before puck drop, had empty tables, seats at the bar, and no one waiting at the bar. No line up ever, during the entire game including intermission at the press level concession. In years past, the lineup there will be half way down the stairs during intermission on a Saturday night.

Considering the state of the economy in Calgary, and the poor performance and low expectations of the team. How big of a window does this team have before it really starts to feel it in the pocketbook? When will that affect how much the team can spend on players?

During the Save Our Flames campaign we were lead to believe that the Flames could not afford to keep or acquire talented players. The Flames couldn't even afford to have a farm team. With the US exchange rate, poor economy in Alberta, and poor performance on the ice. Will we see the Flames get to the point we saw the team in the late 90's?

[Vinny01]

The Flames have 2 members of their ownership group that are Billionaires so they can afford to lose.

In a struggling economy if the Flames are a terrible team it makes it easier to avoid spending money on them when times are tough.

[CroFlames]

The post-lockout NHL is a lot different than the 90s economics of the NHL. The Flames are not in financial "danger".

However, they better improve the product on the ice or else they'll have a lot of pissed off fans who will boo them, and probably toss jerseys, and that's not good for business.

[N-E-B]

No not even close. I remember in the late 90's they were tarping off huge sections of the 2nd bowl. We're nowhere near that point yet but I can definitely see a difference.

[GGG]

I picked up cheap seats on stubhub for the Buffalo game. 6.50 US per seat. All told $50 cad for 4 tickets. Then we got to our seats and the Usher gave up seats for one of the superboxes in the corners of the second level.

It was pretty awesome for $50 for four people.

That is less than we paid for press level seats in the 90s when I went to my first game there agains Montreal. Those seats were $13 each. (Still have the stub)

[handgroen]

sure

[Locke]

The Calgary Flames are just taking notes from our current Government.

If they keep losing their profits go down so they wind up paying less into the League's Profit-Sharing. They sell more than enough tickets to qualify, but why bother being good when you can get paid for sucking?

[Kavvy]

FOI is a depressing place to read threads right now

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Locke

The Calgary Flames are just taking notes from our current Government.

If they keep losing their profits go down so they wind up paying less into the League's Profit-Sharing. They sell more than enough tickets to qualify, but why bother being good when you can get paid for sucking?

That's actually a pretty funny take on it.

[Dome Roamer]

This is the first year in 7 I did not renew my tickets. I probably will only go to a 1 or 2 games this year.

No, I am not in the energy sector and am still employed. Quite frankly the product is below mediocre, and I would rather watch the games from the comfort of my living room.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

FOI is a depressing place to read threads right now

This thread really delivers though.

You take all the depression of FOI, and combine it with "Layoffs in the Oil Patch V2" and the "Alberta Economy (Oil) Discussion" threads to get maximum depression all at once.

I agree though, my first game was Saturday and there was barely any lines at a few of our usual spots.

[Locke]

Thats me. An incorrigible ray of sunshine.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I have season tickets, and I honestly can't believe how few people are going. No lines for anything. I've actually been given lower bowl seats as upgrades from a Flames representative while on my way up to my seats for 2 of the first 4 home games this year.

[calgaryblood]

Even before the losing started I took a look at the buy sell forum and bought some super cheap tickets.

There were several others below STC that were for sale as well. Tough times are coming for the Flames but losing will make it even worse.

You can buy tickets for pretty much 40% of face value to any game.

[corporatejay]

They'll be fine but they can't if they want that new rink.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

They'll be fine but they can't if they want that new rink.

The worst team in the history of professional sports just fleeced a city into paying for a new arena for them.

The worst. I mean, they are so bad that Webster's Dictionary redefined their example for 'Pure Failure' as just 'The Edmonton Oilers.'

So if this, in all honesty, fairly mild level of failure (in context) is a deal breaker, then I think that says good things about the people running our City.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

No not even close. I remember in the late 90's they were tarping off huge sections of the 2nd bowl. We're nowhere near that point yet but I can definitely see a difference.

I don't think that's ever been true has it? I went to a lot of games back then and always remember the 3rd level being completely tarped off, but nothing in the second bowl. I'm not 100% sure though.

[rohara66]

I’d say last year the dome looked 90-95% full on most weekend games. This past Saturday was 85% full maybe. Still massive lines wherever I went (beer, bathroom, repeat).

[GullFoss]

The flames still have a waiting list for season tickets. And to be honest, the future continues to be bright.

Once you've been a season ticket holder for 5+ years, its hard to give them up - you're in pretty good seats, the team is young, and its clearly talented. You might be able to give them up, but you might not be able to get them back.

Remember that 2004 came out of no-where. The same thing will likely happen with contending status coming out of this rebuild. Season ticket holders are likely to recognize this.

[Table 5]

i think the economy has a lot more to do with it than the Flames performance. I wouldn't be surprised if ticket sales really cratered this year, as by now the downturn has probably really worked its way into peoples lives and habits (whereas the season before I think there was still some residual optimism). I know myself, I've cut my games in half.

That said, the performance on the ice sure isn't helping...both in terms of results and entertainment factor. I can barely watch the games on TV right now.