Flames/Quad City Deal? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

604flames · 11-25-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Good to hear the Salmon Kings are doing well at the gate; however, if Victoria has accepted the ECHL product wouldn't the AHL game be a step or two better?

I'm picking up what you're puttin' down.. I think travel would be a pain though. Right now the Kings play (predominantly) against Idaho, Alaska, Vegas, Phoenix, Stockton, Fresno, Ontario and Bakersfield (I could be forgetting a team or two). Even then teams generally visit for 3-game sets (usually Wed, Fri, Sat according to my friend, but sometimes Fri, Sat, Sun afternoon).

pioneer98 · 11-25-2008, 09:27 PM

I don't know why Winnipeg would want the Flames when they've got an affiliation with Vancouver. They have a nice arrangement that lets them sign free agents like Krog and they are drawing very well. Maybe they would draw well with the Flames, too, but why mess with a good situation? They are doing just fine with their current arrangement.

The Flames really need to realize they need to build a fan base for their AHL team. The prime AHL markets like Winnipeg or even Milwaukee and Chicago for that matter or doing just fine with their current affiliations. Why would any of these teams want to trade their existing affiliation for one with such a rocky track record?

Iceman90 · 12-03-2008, 12:28 AM

What were the Knights drawing in Omaha in their first season?

BringTheKnightsBack · 12-03-2008, 06:44 AM

The knights took in 3100 during their first season and about 3550 during the second season. quad cities hit 3500 last year and will be lucky to hit 3000 by next april. calgary was promised all these hockey fans would show up and watch the ahl. it was pretty obvious that was not going to happen. based on the comments ive seen here and other places the quad cities will never support the flames in big numbers. if sutter wants big crowds he will have to move the team again.

Tilley · 12-03-2008, 07:25 AM

Where do they go though? Calgary isn't losing any money with the team in Quad Cities, so as long as the local owners are willing to keep the team it makes good financial sense for Calgary.

The team is well situated in the central part of the U.S. They can get to Chicago quickly and then to any North American city relatively easily. Moving the team to the East Coast or Canada makes it more difficult and costly to transport players to Calgary or whereever the team may be.

If they were to move, which I do not think they should or will, I would suggest Kansas City. If the NHL has no desire to put a team in KC for 5-10 years, the team would have a large population to draw from, no competition from other pro sports for the majority of the season, and a new building. It also has an international airport and is centrally located in the U.S. It would be a similar situation to Houston's AHL team.

SparkyOne · 12-03-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilley

Where do they go though? Calgary isn't losing any money with the team in Quad Cities, so as long as the local owners are willing to keep the team it makes good financial sense for Calgary.

The team is well situated in the central part of the U.S. They can get to Chicago quickly and then to any North American city relatively easily. Moving the team to the East Coast or Canada makes it more difficult and costly to transport players to Calgary or whereever the team may be.

If they were to move, which I do not think they should or will, I would suggest Kansas City. If the NHL has no desire to put a team in KC for 5-10 years, the team would have a large population to draw from, no competition from other pro sports for the majority of the season, and a new building. It also has an international airport and is centrally located in the U.S. It would be a similar situation to Houston's AHL team.

I agree with everything you say, but I do kind of wonder how much support they'd get in KC, either. We had a UHL team there that could barely last a season, and when they built the new arena it was pretty much NHL or bust. And the (real IHL) Blades folded due to lack of support....I'm just not sure that, given the economy these days, that minor league hockey is going to see the support it has in the past.

Jetsfan · 12-03-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkyOne

I agree with everything you say, but I do kind of wonder how much support they'd get in KC, either. We had a UHL team there that could barely last a season, and when they built the new arena it was pretty much NHL or bust. And the (real IHL) Blades folded due to lack of support....I'm just not sure that, given the economy these days, that minor league hockey is going to see the support it has in the past.

Didn't KC have the NHL Scouts back in the 70's? How long did they last there before becoming the Colorado Rockies and then the New Jersey Devils?

SparkyOne · 12-04-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetsfan

Didn't KC have the NHL Scouts back in the 70's? How long did they last there before becoming the Colorado Rockies and then the New Jersey Devils?

The Scouts were there from 1974-76.

Before that they had the Blues (1967-72) in the CPHL, and after that the Red Wings (1976-79) in the CHL.

From there it went to the Blades (real IHL) from 1990-2001 and the UHL team in 2004-05.

The UHL team was owned by one of the Frankes, who also own the Fort Wayne Komets. They drew sparse crowds and they folded owing a lot of money to vendors....

RedHot25 · 12-12-2008, 04:48 PM

Hmmm....

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=259452&l...=headlines_nhl

The city of Abbotsford is very close to landing an American Hockey League team.

According to CKNW 980AM in Vancouver, the cities new 7,500 seat facility TRADEX would be the new home of the Quad City Flames, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames, for the 2009-10 season.

dobbles · 12-12-2008, 05:00 PM

wow. ouch.

Papi34 · 12-12-2008, 05:00 PM

Can someone explain to me why AHL teams move so frequently? It seems like every second year and i dont quite understand...

Thanks

PIMking · 12-12-2008, 05:11 PM

calgary isnt losing money but I think its funny that sutter wants more fans when they dont care that they are playing hockey and suck big time. have fun for two years

ms.conduct · 12-12-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papi34

Can someone explain to me why AHL teams move so frequently? It seems like every second year and i dont quite understand...

Thanks

It's not all AHL teams... its yours in particular. For heaven's sake, how can a team put down any roots and develop a fan base if they keep skipping town?

QuadCityImages · 12-12-2008, 08:39 PM

Flames deny AHL team is moving to Canada -QCTimes

Quote:

A Canadian radio report to the contrary, Calgary Flames Chief Financial Officer Michael Holditch Friday said the National Hockey League team has made no agreement to move its American Hockey League affiliate from the Quad-Cities to Abbotsford, B.C.

“I heard it was on a radio station in Vancouver,’’ Holditch said of the reported move. “But we’re not.’’

Holditch, however, wouldn’t rule out possible future Calgary interest in such a move.

“We are under contract with the Quad-Cities until (2011),’’ he said. “Is there an interest (in Abbotsford)? Well, no. Not until we know it’s not going to work there (in the Quad-Cities).’’

Jetsfan · 12-13-2008, 09:40 AM

Wow, I'm sad to hear this. I don't undersand why the Flames would want the team travelling all the time. Why would people in Abbottford cheer for the Vacouver Canuck's rival farm team. Confused.

pioneer98 · 12-13-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BringTheKnightsBack

The knights took in 3100 during their first season and about 3550 during the second season. quad cities hit 3500 last year and will be lucky to hit 3000 by next april. calgary was promised all these hockey fans would show up and watch the ahl. it was pretty obvious that was not going to happen. based on the comments ive seen here and other places the quad cities will never support the flames in big numbers. if sutter wants big crowds he will have to move the team again.

Omaha had a 1st place team their 2nd season. QC finished 6th last year, and are on about the same pace this year.

QCFlames2007 · 12-14-2008, 06:54 AM

Here's an article from todays paper. It looks like they are staying here and I sure hope they are.

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=417631

icarus · 12-15-2008, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QCFlames2007

Here's an article from todays paper. It looks like they are staying here and I sure hope they are.

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=417631

I really hope the Flames can stay in QC. Put a winner on the ice for the fans and then see how the team fares.

dcbc · 03-13-2009, 09:42 PM

Well, its nice to know my "sources" know what they are talking about...

dobbles · 03-13-2009, 10:34 PM

i wouldn't be so sure. the abbottsford deal is far from done. we know the flames wont be in qc next year, but where they will be is still very much up in the air.

and its not like anything you reported was mind blowing stuff. the abbottsford people have been telling anyone that will listen about how they are going to get an ahl team.