Heat cost city of Abbotsford $1.2 Million - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sureLoss · 05-19-2011, 03:17 PM

http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/Abbot...468/story.html

Jim Peplinski · 05-19-2011, 04:05 PM

Just make that check payable to the Calgary Flames. Thanks.

Oilbert · 05-19-2011, 04:21 PM

Swap Manitoba and Abbotsford franchises and the problem is solved.

FlamesAddiction · 05-20-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilbert

Swap Manitoba and Abbotsford franchises and the problem is solved.

The Moose are already a profitable and independent AHL franchise - the Canucks do not control them in anyway, they just have an agreement to supply them with players. I don't see why they take the risk of moving if they didn't have to.

Canada 02 · 05-20-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oilbert

Swap Manitoba and Abbotsford franchises and the problem is solved.

bad deal for the city, but it's a great deal for the Heat. 8 more years of guaranteed revenue. My guess is the only way the Heat leave is if the city breaks the contract, which would no doubt have significant penalties or break-up fees, not unlike the Flames deal with QC

The Original FFIV · 05-20-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada 02

bad deal for the city, but it's a great deal for the Heat. 8 more years of guaranteed revenue. My guess is the only way the Heat leave is if the city breaks the contract, which would no doubt have significant penalties or break-up fees, not unlike the Flames deal with QC

If the Heat want to draw fans in the Lower Mainland, they would be best served to do more afternoon games on Saturdays then going head to head with the Canucks. I was very disappointed when they released the schedule and had no matinees with the one exception of the Marlies game which was televised nationally.

Sure hope we get some prospects as the 2 games I went to were borderline painful. Hope Feaster is very active this summer in pursuing youth (still waiting for the Flames to sign Kruise Reddick) and get some offensive creativity going. Let's hope that he is able to make some shrewd signings like Gillis did (ie Tanev/Lack) which will expedite the replenishment of bonafide prospects after years of neglect.

junior · 05-20-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

If the Heat want to draw fans in the Lower Mainland, they would be best served to do more afternoon games on Saturdays then going head to head with the Canucks. I was very disappointed when they released the schedule and had no matinees with the one exception of the Marlies game which was televised nationally.

Sure hope we get some prospects as the 2 games I went to were borderline painful. Hope Feaster is very active this summer in pursuing youth (still waiting for the Flames to sign Kruise Reddick) and get some offensive creativity going. Let's hope that he is able to make some shrewd signings like Gillis did (ie Tanev/Lack) which will expedite the replenishment of bonafide prospects after years of neglect.

You realize that Kruise Reddick is 5'9 and 180 lbs right?

The Original FFIV · 05-21-2011, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junior

You realize that Kruise Reddick is 5'9 and 180 lbs right?

Yes, one that averages approx 1 pt a game in the dub.

Look at our current prospect list and ask if it not worth a gamble to roll the dice on the kid? Was ranked as a 2nd rounder in 2008 so there has to be something there. Sounds like some of our highly regarded prospects have junior/college eligibility next year so might be a bubble. What would excite you more - seeing another year of Chucko or a fresh face in Reddick that may have more upside?

Not saying he's going to save the franchise, but would be intriguing to see what he would be able to do at the AHL level.

Hemi-Cuda · 05-21-2011, 11:36 AM

i don't see the Heat lasting long in Abbotsford, not if it keeps costing the city this kind of money. they'll find a way to get out of the deal

what asinine thinking it was in the first place to think that a Flames farm club could survive in Canucks territory. Ken King was an idiot for even considering it

Pierre "Monster" McGuire · 05-21-2011, 01:49 PM

The city has pledged to help the team alot more this season.

Towards the end of the season they put up Heat banners on the street lights down all the major roads. They had Heat players visit schools and attend festivals and whatnot. So I'd like to see what happens next season.

The average attendance was just over 3800 for the entire season. However, in the last dozen games of the season there were anywhere between 4300 and 4600 per game - that's just about the same time the city started doing various things to promote the team.

I still hold out hope for the team's attendance in 11/12.

By the way, it can't hurt that Chilliwack doesn't have a hockey team this year. Plus, Howse is going to join the team and maybe he'll bring over some old die hard Bruins fans.

PIMking · 05-21-2011, 03:01 PM

Average is 3800 but what is the actual number of people. Yeah I know that could mean paid seats but empty paid seats don't but merch or food...

FlamesAddiction · 05-21-2011, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i don't see the Heat lasting long in Abbotsford, not if it keeps costing the city this kind of money. they'll find a way to get out of the deal

what asinine thinking it was in the first place to think that a Flames farm club could survive in Canucks territory. Ken King was an idiot for even considering it

I don't think he was stupid. The QC investors wanted out and the City of Abbotsford approached the Flames with an offer to bring the team there and cover losses. It's a pretty good deal for the Flames no matter what happens in the future.

It beats the alternative of not having a farm team again. There don't seem to be a lot of cities begging for an AHL team.

If Atlanta does move to Winnipeg, they might be a good place for a Flames farm team. At least the logo would already be there.

Nuckleduster · 05-21-2011, 06:24 PM

Well, I don't mind the few dollars a year that the Heat adds to my house taxes. Wish more folks would go out to the games, though.

PIMking · 05-21-2011, 06:32 PM

the Abbotsford group contacted the Flames before the QCSV (qc owners) wanted out.

Hemi-Cuda · 05-21-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't think he was stupid. The QC investors wanted out and the City of Abbotsford approached the Flames with an offer to bring the team there and cover losses. It's a pretty good deal for the Flames no matter what happens in the future.

It beats the alternative of not having a farm team again. There don't seem to be a lot of cities begging for an AHL team.

If Atlanta does move to Winnipeg, they might be a good place for a Flames farm team. At least the logo would already be there.

i wasn't aware the city actively sought out the Flames and presented them with such a killer deal, certainly makes more sense now why they went ahead with it. now i just have to question the intelligence of the Abbotsford city council, they had to know putting anything related to the Flames would be a tough sell in their market. why wouldn't they just hold on for a few more years to find a more viable AHL brand to bring in?

bet they're kicking themselves now with the Moose most likely on their way out of Winnipeg

sureLoss · 05-22-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i wasn't aware the city actively sought out the Flames and presented them with such a killer deal, certainly makes more sense now why they went ahead with it. now i just have to question the intelligence of the Abbotsford city council, they had to know putting anything related to the Flames would be a tough sell in their market. why wouldn't they just hold on for a few more years to find a more viable AHL brand to bring in?

bet they're kicking themselves now with the Moose most likely on their way out of Winnipeg

I would be shocked if Abbotsford did not contact the Canucks, when they were looking for a team. Either the Canucks weren't interested or couldn't get out of their affiliate agreement with the Moose.

Flames may have been their best option to fill an arena that cost them $85 million to build. I am pretty sure they would rather have a tenant now, then hope and pray for the perfect tenant while losing potentially more money than they are losing now.

Nemisz/Breen · 05-31-2011, 09:53 PM

The Canucks were asked and were not interested.

Then they re-signed with the Moose.

So they could have signed to be in Abbotsford.

Vulcan · 06-01-2011, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemisz/Breen

The Canucks were asked and were not interested.

Then they re-signed with the Moose.

So they could have signed to be in Abbotsford.

Whether the Canucks were interested or not, they do not own an AHL franchise so they have no control of where AHL franchises are located and so weren't in a position to sign with Abbotsford.

Nemisz/Breen · 06-01-2011, 08:20 AM

Actually yes they could have signed with Abbotsford. At the time they were not
in a contract with the Moose, so they could have just put their AHL team in Abby.

Canada 02 · 06-01-2011, 09:42 AM

the city of Abbotsford did not own an AHL franchise, and neither did the Canucks. Can't place a franchise in a a city when you don't own one

Abbotsford needed the Flames or the Oilers as both owned AHL franchises that could be placed in Abbotsford