When does Calgary start getting excited about this team?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I think the dome is definitely louder this year, the issue is that the goals aren't coming until the 3rd period often. Lot's of edge of your seat watching with ooooo's and aaahhh's every time Johnny touches the puck. The few weekend games I've been to have been rocking louder than I've heard in 5+ years.

I do agree that most casual and bandwagon fans aren't back yet since there's still a lot up in the air and it's not playoff hockey yet.

[#-3]

People always forget it wasn't until the 3rd round in '04 they started closing the road for the post game. The Game 6 win against Detroit was the night people were riding ontoo if cars down 17th. The next morning it was coined the red mile and they announced they would close the road for pedestrian traffic for what would be the next 13 games.

Every year people are disappoint that there isn't a peaceful drunken mob in the streets after game one of the playoffs. It has to build through having a better than expected season, making the playoffs than having success in the playoffs. We are only 1/3 of the way there.

And I have no problem with Bandwagoners, they are part of the reason you can get good deals on tickets in the down years, and part of the reason the up years are so exciting. No such thing a Tier 2 fans.

[WhiteTiger]

I don't know about what constitutes excited (though I was around town for the last Stanley Cup run, so I guess that would do it) but every time I get to the 'Dome for a game, it seems pretty full of red.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Ticket prices are just way too damn expensive. I just can't justify paying that when I have every game at home in HD on my 56" TV

[Jiggy_12]

2004 exploded, and that was due to two things. The drought, and the expectations going in to the year (there were none).

2015 hasn't exploded yet, even though the same two ingredients are there. What's different this time, was expectations were so low but everyone was on board with the direction of the team, that we didnt necesarily need playoffs to get excited. We already are excited, but very cautious about what the season brings.

2004 was such a shock to everyone's system that everyone just went nuts as there were no expectations that the team was even on the right track.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

This year has been insane. I have been to 8-9 games and I have noticed the Done is louder than it was in years past. I was at a couple big comebacks (NJ, Colorado) and the 2 quick goals by Johnny which were very loud nights.

All those of those games had an amazing atmosphere. Or at least the NJ and Avs game did in the last three minutes. I was almost taken aback at how loud it was after the final seconds ticked off in regulation of the Avs game. Fun times.

However, most nights, the atmosphere is pretty quite. At very large number of seats are empty for the opening face off on most nights. The place takes almost a period to fill up. I'm not expecting 2004 type enthusiasm, just surprised that the atmosphere isn't any different than say two season ago. Yet the results on the ice and the play of the team is much improved.

[Mazrim]

I don't go to too many games live, but the Armed Forces night vs Florida was the loudest I've ever heard the Dome. Helps that it was a wild game and the start of the weekend, but it was fun to be in that atmosphere.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

All those of those games had an amazing atmosphere. Or at least the NJ and Avs game did in the last three minutes. I was almost taken aback at how loud it was after the final seconds ticked off in regulation of the Avs game. Fun times.

However, most nights, the atmosphere is pretty quite. At very large number of seats are empty for the opening face off on most nights. The place takes almost a period to fill up. I'm not expecting 2004 type enthusiasm, just surprised that the atmosphere isn't any different than say two season ago. Yet the results on the ice and the play of the team is much improved.

7pm start times create this issue. Very tough for people to make it to these games right on time. It's been an issue for years, it's not anything recent.

[djsFlames]

I've seen more Flames jerseys floating around on game days and even off days than I've seen in 4-5 years.

The "buzz" is definitely on the upswing. Also Flames posts on facebook are getting about twice as many likes and comments as last season.

Outside of Calgary, Giordano and Gaudreau are helping draw attention to the team as well, as our stand out guys, where as far as casual non-Calgarian fans were concerned, to them we had nobody a season or two ago.

Feels eerily similar to mid 03-04 when momentum was picking up over that season.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

7pm start times create this issue. Very tough for people to make it to these games right on time. It's been an issue for years, it's not anything recent.

After the 2004 run up until a couple years ago, the stands were not full, but they would be close. It just seems that people are not that concerned about missing any of the action like they were in the past.

[Gaudfather]

The Flames were getting lots of notice today on Hockey Central at Noon on Fan 590. Listen from about the 12:36 mark to about 17:23

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/fan59...---Tuesday.mp3

I laughed when Doug McLean said "Treliving has got to lock his door when he hears Burkie coming down the hall". What he was inferring is that the Flames don't want to trade away any key pieces or high draft picks just in the hopes of making a deeper run in the playoffs this year.

However belief is building across the league that this team is poised to make the post-season this year.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

7pm start times create this issue. Very tough for people to make it to these games right on time. It's been an issue for years, it's not anything recent.

7pm starts are bad? I actually like 7pm starts the best. For me 7pm works the best as it provides just enough time to leave the office, get home and have dinner and get the family downtown for the game. If I'm going to the game with buddies 7pm provides the perfect amount of time for a couple beers and a bite to eat.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

After the 2004 run up until a couple years ago, the stands were not full, but they would be close. It just seems that people are not that concerned about missing any of the action like they were in the past.

I agree, when the team is really hot / popular, for sure, less people miss the start, but a lot of people still did. Hard for some to eat, maybe even get home, park, grab a drink and make the seats for 7pm. I know I do, especially those who don't work DT, or do and need to go home for some reason before hand.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

7pm starts are bad? I actually like 7pm starts the best. For me 7pm works the best as it provides just enough time to leave the office, get home and have dinner and get the family downtown for the game. If I'm going to the game with buddies 7pm provides the perfect amount of time for a couple beers and a bite to eat.

Didn't say they were bad, just said they create a tough situation for many to make it to the game on time. I know I can barely make it for 7pm starts based on my schedule, and if grabbing a beverage or snack was a priority for me when watching a game, I'd never be in my seat on time.

But I agree, trade off, I also like getting home earlier than if it was a later start.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

7pm starts are bad? I actually like 7pm starts the best. For me 7pm works the best as it provides just enough time to leave the office, get home and have dinner and get the family downtown for the game. If I'm going to the game with buddies 7pm provides the perfect amount of time for a couple beers and a bite to eat.

Lots of people in this city work later than you.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

7pm starts are bad? I actually like 7pm starts the best. For me 7pm works the best as it provides just enough time to leave the office, get home and have dinner and get the family downtown for the game. If I'm going to the game with buddies 7pm provides the perfect amount of time for a couple beers and a bite to eat.

Can any of you old farts, like me, remember what game times were back in the 80s and early 90s? I seemed to think that games usually started at 7:30. Is this so or am I revising what I remember?

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Buff

Can any of you old farts, like me, remember what game times were back in the 80s and early 90s? I seemed to think that games usually started at 7:30. Is this so or am I revising what I remember?

7:30pm start used to be the norm.

[GioforPM]

7:00 means I'm not going home before the game. Which is great if its a work date (also means going home a bit earlier afterwards).

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

2004 exploded, and that was due to two things. The drought, and the expectations going in to the year (there were none).

2015 hasn't exploded yet, even though the same two ingredients are there. What's different this time, was expectations were so low but everyone was on board with the direction of the team, that we didnt necesarily need playoffs to get excited. We already are excited, but very cautious about what the season brings.

2004 was such a shock to everyone's system that everyone just went nuts as there were no expectations that the team was even on the right track.

I remember in 2004 the buzz wasn't really felt in the Saddledome (besides the oohing and awwing of Kipper) until after Kiprusoff came back from injury February 10th. Once Kipper came back just as hot as before, and the Flames somehow survived January without him (and Turek for half the month) people started to believe, and the dome started to really rock. Until then everyone just expected we were going to screw this up again, but Kipper kept proving us wrong. I feel the buzz is very similar so far this year, with fans excited about new guys like Gaudreau, but overall apprehensive about really getting excited. I think much like 2004 if we go through February still in a playoff spot, this city will be ready to explode.

I remember being at the Phoenix game when we clinched, oh man that was the loudest regular season game I've ever been too. Was boring as hell too but no one cared we were just so pumped. I think this city has the potential to explode like that again if we can keep this season on the right track.

[Bill Bumface]

In early/mid March of 2004 they still weren't selling out.