Most fans in Alberta? Oilers or Flames?

[troutman]

The Oilers only entered the NHL one year before the Flames moved from Atlanta. I don't know any native Calgarians that cheered for the Oilers then. I was an Islanders fan before the Flames.

[nik-]

laughing at how many bit on Jordan's schtick

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by nik-

laughing at how many bit on Jordan's schtick

Ew

[N-E-B]

Alberta is firmly (and I mean FIRMLY) an Oilers province. Calgary has never been an Oiler town, but outside our borders it’s not even close.

It’s unfortunate, I think recently the tide had been shifting to our favour with the rest of the province, especially southern Alberta. But with the emergence of Connor McDavid I believe that has changed things. There’s a whole generation of kids with terrible parents who are becoming Oiler fans because of him.

The Flames will not catch the Oilers in popularity in my lifetime. That’s a fact and I’m okay with it. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s correct.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Oilers only entered the NHL one year before the Flames moved from Atlanta. I don't know any native Calgarians that cheered for the Oilers then. I was an Islanders fan before the Flames.

agree Calgarians would not have rooted for the Oilers in that season ( I was a Sabres fan) but it gave them a one year head start (with Wayne Gretzky in tow) on the rest of the province- that's not trivial actually

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Oilers only entered the NHL one year before the Flames moved from Atlanta. I don't know any native Calgarians that cheered for the Oilers then. I was an Islanders fan before the Flames.

True, but that gave them a year of loyalty before the Flames became a reality, and this was bolstered by the fact that a lot of Albertans got behind the WHA Oilers before that. Therefore, outside the Calgary region, the fanbase was largely settled before the Flames arrived. Plus they had Gretzky to marvel at, also well before the Flames arrived.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t think it is even remotely close. Oilers have most areas outside of Edmonton in the majority. Northern Alberta is almost all Oil and I think Medicine Hat is heavy Oil (at least it was when I was a kid). Lethbridge may be a split as is Red Deer. Even Calgary is full of Oiler fans as people move away from that dump to live in the better city.

I live in Red Deer. It definitely leans Coil.

[Azhouse]

I will say this. The steady diet of crap served up to either fanbase who live and breathe hockey is criminal. Teams like Tampa win and no one outside the rink cares. My Dad had seasons tickets starting in the Corral (and he was an Oilers fan). The 80s were incredible. This is garbage. I raised my kid to be a Flames fan and he won’t even wear the jersey it’s so dismal. In his lifetime they’ve won one playoff round and he’s going to be 13. Gross.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

Yes it was.. I didn't know a single Flames fan which is what brought me to Calgarypuck in 2001.

Like real Flames fan, not a single one. The dome was a library and the team was on the verge of moving. Oilers fans were everywhere and outnumbered Flames fans at the Saddledome and around the city.

Look at you treating anecdotes as data.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

I will say this. The steady diet of crap served up to either fanbase who live and breathe hockey is criminal. Teams like Tampa win and no one outside the rink cares. My Dad had seasons tickets starting in the Corral (and he was an Oilers fan). The 80s were incredible. This is garbage. I raised my kid to be a Flames fan and he won’t even wear the jersey it’s so dismal. In his lifetime they’ve won one playoff round and he’s going to be 13. Gross.

This is not just a Flames thing, it's also a kid thing. I have three, and none of them have any interest in any organised sports other than when they are playing them.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This is not just a Flames thing, it's also a kid thing. I have three, and none of them have any interest in any organised sports other than when they are playing them.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

As far as I can tell on social media apps, many young people only follow sports for the gambling angle. Look at the chats on the Score app - it's only about whether the next goal affects their bets.

[Strange Brew]

Kids still follow sports IMO but there is far less team loyalty. It’s about the players and the highlights.

They also love the merch. Sports related apparel has never been so popular and is an important revenue stream.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Oilers only entered the NHL one year before the Flames moved from Atlanta. I don't know any native Calgarians that cheered for the Oilers then. I was an Islanders fan before the Flames.

Lots of people cheered for them when they were still in the WHA though.

They have been around since 72 and certainly had a following locally. Then things exploded with Gretzky lighting the league up as an 18 year old which was completely unheard of back then.

Then they moved to the NHL and the prevailing thought was he couldnt last a year in their league.

He led the league in scoring (along with Marcel Dionne) as a 19 year old. The Oilers quickly became a massive draw Canada wide.

[Kiran403]

Originally Posted by looooob

fair enough i suppose and I know I'm old but the 89 Flames team didn't have a Gretzky or Messier but it did have 5 hall of famers and a large number of other star players- this was not a mockable bunch

But then what happened? Oilers won the Cup the next year and any spark the flames had was gone.

Also, as someone who didn’t grow up in AB, and who was an 11 year old, Edmonton was considered a much cooler city just because of West Edmonton Mall. It was way easier to do a weekend trip from Saskatoon. You could go see a game, hit up West Edmonton Mall and make a mini trip out of it. There were regular bus tours out of Saskatoon that did this as well.

Obviously I know better now as far as which is the better city, but from the outside looking in, it’s not easy to tell.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This is not just a Flames thing, it's also a kid thing. I have three, and none of them have any interest in any organised sports other than when they are playing them.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

He’s a hard core sports fan. If they were into the second round he’d admit he’s a Flames fan and wear the colours. As of now he won’t tell anyone who he cheers for. Red Deer is McDavid country. He did cheer for them to lose in a sweep so I was proud of that.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by troutman

Researcher trying to pin down why hockey fans in Red Deer support Oilers or Flames

https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/spor...ers-or-flames/


Running head: FAN IDENTIFICATION IN RED DEER, ALBERTA A Study of NHL Fan Identification in Red Deer, Alberta
https://dr.library.brocku.ca/bitstre...=1&isAllowed=y

You don't need research. I've lived among these mouth breathers for the better part of 15 years.

Red Deer is garbage, and team preference is merely a reflection of that.

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

Yes it was.. I didn't know a single Flames fan which is what brought me to Calgarypuck in 2001.

Like real Flames fan, not a single one. The dome was a library and the team was on the verge of moving. Oilers fans were everywhere and outnumbered Flames fans at the Saddledome and around the city.

Give it up dude. This is just a garbage take!!

[wired]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Yeah, I don't think it is even close. There are tonnes of Oilers fans everywhere. Flames fans are a select group of the elite—membership is limited.

More like delusional, heavy drinking, rose coloured glasses wearing fans. I am in that group by the way.

Moving back down south soon, house is up for sale Monday.

[wired]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t think it is even remotely close. Oilers have most areas outside of Edmonton in the majority. Northern Alberta is almost all Oil and I think Medicine Hat is heavy Oil (at least it was when I was a kid). Lethbridge may be a split as is Red Deer. Even Calgary is full of Oiler fans as people move away from that dump to live in the better city.

I see the odd flames hat and jersey worn in the city, but my god, the fans in this city are daft as they come.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Red Deer is garbage, and team preference is merely a reflection of that.

I like it... other than all the Coiler fans.