Hitmen Hope to Break Attendance Record... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FireFly · 11-29-2007, 03:31 PM

Just found out that the Hitmen have opened both sides of the 3rd level for the Teddy Bear Toss game on Sunday. They're looking to break and attendance record set by the Winterhawks in 1997 (19,108) and their own stuffed animal record set last year.

Get out and support your Hitmen! And bring a teddy bear! There are 2600 tickets available!

Resolute 14 · 11-29-2007, 03:38 PM

Actually, there are less than 400 tickets available, and the Hitmen sent out an email to season ticket holders offering two tickets to another game, +$5 in concession vouchers for each ticket to this game they turn in if the STH can't make it Sunday.

It's virtually guaranteed that we will topple Portland, finally. The single regular season game mark is the only attendance record the Hitmen don't own. Came close last year with a crowd of 19,036.

They also need to make sure that fans bring a lot of bears. Portland had over 20,000 bears hit the ice for their game this year, despite having less than 7000 fans at the game. That would have obliterated our record in that department as well.

FireFly · 11-29-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Actually, there are less than 400 tickets available, and the Hitmen sent out an email to season ticket holders offering two tickets to another game, +$5 in concession vouchers for each ticket to this game they turn in if the STH can't make it Sunday.

It's virtually guaranteed that we will topple Portland, finally. The single regular season game mark is the only attendance record the Hitmen don't own. Came close last year with a crowd of 19,036.

They also need to make sure that fans bring a lot of bears. Portland had over 20,000 bears hit the ice for their game this year, despite having less than 7000 fans at the game. That would have obliterated our record in that department as well.

But the press release I just got said that 2600 were just released... it also doesn't mention the number of bears Portland threw... Hmph.

Everybody bring two bears!

Resolute 14 · 11-29-2007, 03:44 PM

Interesting. Those might be from STH's that turned in tickets.

I know in the past, STH's would buy a bunch of tickets for the game to bring friends, and leave their regular tickets unused until another game. So even though the announced attendance is 16-18,000, the turnstile count is probable 14-16,000.

Resolute 14 · 11-29-2007, 03:46 PM

Ahh, I see the release on the Hitmen homepage.

They are wrong though, it isn't the first time they've opened the entire building. They did have a crowd over 19,000 last year, and several over 18,000 in the past four.

troutman · 11-29-2007, 03:49 PM

Are there really 20,000 kids in the city that don't already have a teddy bear? Wouldn't it be better if every fan made a cash donation to a local children's charity?

http://www.hitmenhockey.com/cgi-bin/...num=0000001210

Bears collected at Sunday’s Hitmen game will be distributed among several local charities including; Toy Mountain, Book Bags for Kids and the Salvation Army. The Hitmen will also take Teddy Bear’s to the Alberta Children’s Hospital on Monday morning.

Resolute 14 · 11-29-2007, 03:54 PM

You can buy bears at the game for $10 each. The money goes to the Rainbow Society, along with the bear.

Cowboy89 · 11-29-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

But the press release I just got said that 2600 were just released... it also doesn't mention the number of bears Portland threw... Hmph.

Everybody bring two bears!

Some people bring garbage bags full of bears to this thing. Unreal!

Speaking to tickets my buddy who works for the Flames told me that Petro-Canada has over 1,000 tickets bought for the event as well as a bunch of other companies. He managed to score tix for a bunch of our friends so it should be fun. Looking forward to going to Saturday nights game against the Jackets and to the toss the following day. He also mentions that those special jerseys are on sale for around $130.

ken0042 · 11-29-2007, 04:21 PM

Didn't we sell out the Dome during the 04-05 season? Or does playoffs not count towards the record? Or is it just a "Teddy Bear Toss" record?

Bill Bumface · 11-29-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Didn't we sell out the Dome during the 04-05 season? Or does playoffs not count towards the record? Or is it just a "Teddy Bear Toss" record?

This is just the regular season record, we've got the playoff record.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The single regular season game mark is the only attendance record the Hitmen don't own. Came close last year with a crowd of 19,036.

Resolute 14 · 11-29-2007, 05:20 PM

Well, I was close with that crowd, it was 19,017, actually. 2nd largest crowd in WHL history.

Playoff record is 17,139 x2 by the Hitmen in 1999 - when they didn't open up the 300s. The Hitmen hold the top five spots on the playoff attendance charts.

Season record is 362,227, set in 2004-05. Calgary holds the top three spots in this column.

604flames · 11-29-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Playoff record is 17,139 x2 by the Hitmen in 1999 - when they didn't open up the 300s. The Hitmen hold the top five spots on the playoff attendance charts.

Zdenek Blatny remembers one of those games fondly

browna · 11-30-2007, 01:37 AM

I wouldn't mind going just once and sit in my seats to check for future reference to see if I would be able to have the arm and correct physics to be able to chuck anything onto the ice if I really wanted/needed too during a Flames game (?).

Or, would also come in handy if some wacko in the Flames marketing department comes up with a "GM Place Night" at the Saddledome...where if general garbage won't do, throw a green sweater at the empty net.

That said, I agree with above. Back when it was a couple thousand bears it was a worthwhile effort to give all kids in hospitals and those in various facilities, a bear. Now its taken on a tone of beating another teams record of bears on the ice with less attention paid to what they're going to do with so many of the things.

Buff · 12-01-2007, 12:48 AM

Lethbridge Hurricanes set a record tonite. Not for attendance, but for most bears thrown on the ice. A crowd of just over 5200 threw just over 22,700 stuffed animals onto the ice, just 2:24 into the game.

KevanGuy · 12-01-2007, 12:52 AM

Holy mother. Are there even 22 000 kids in Lethbridge?

Dion · 12-01-2007, 01:01 AM

Great job by the Lethbridge fans!

Resolute 14 · 12-01-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buff

Lethbridge Hurricanes set a record tonite. Not for attendance, but for most bears thrown on the ice. A crowd of just over 5200 threw just over 22,700 stuffed animals onto the ice, just 2:24 into the game.

dammit!

Now I gotta go to Toys R us and get a garbage bag full of bears! You guys suck!