I’ve been losing interest for quite awhile. Find myself on the off topic board here more than the Flames board which is ridiculous when it is a hockey site. Covid really seemed to kill my pro sports interest and with my kids not all that interested I just care less and less. It’s funny because last season my passion was kind of reinvigorated in the playoffs and Johnnys OT game 7 winner made remember why I love hockey so much. As per usual the flames managed to kill that momentum and now honestly I think they’d need to be in the playoffs for me to be that interested again.
I've never been less interested in the team than this season. I doubt the organization makes any major changes this off season so I doubt I will be very invested next year. The only real thing that interests me is the prospects and how they perform next year. The Flames are in no man's land right now which is by far the worst place to be.
Have been a hockey junky for six decades and a Flames fan since the first season. I've lived and died with this team and bled the colors, even while moving to other markets with better and more successful teams to support. But you can take the boy out of Calgary but you can't take Calgary out of the boy, so I have always stayed true to my team. Unfortunately my love affair with this club has become abusive and toxic through a never-ending cycle of bad personnel hires and decisions which has taken the joy out of supporting the team.
For me, I've kind of become ambivalent to the team. I used to watch every game start-to-finish regardless of outcome, just couldn't turn it off. Even during years of mismanagement. To go from insane hockey junky to not really caring is a tough turn, but a long one coming. I could document the watershed moments (Fleury and the disintegration of a championship team, mishandling Iginla, and the Treliving era) but this would turn into a book.
Suffice to say the low point was this past season. Treliving assembled a decent team on paper, but was saddle with an obstinate antagonist who was supposed to be a partner in achieving success. The guy who was supposed to provide the guidance and leadership to the players and figure ways to use their strengths became uncooperative and adversarial in his approach. He turned every possible positive the team had working in its favor throughout the year into yet another distraction and means to either tear players down or force them into the place he felt they should be in. The team took on this personality and turned into one of the least likeable teams in the organization's history. At that point ambivalence began to evolve more into antipathy. This is also what I have felt brewing in the GTs and PGTs throughout the year.
Fan antipathy is the thing the Flames must protect against. Fan antipathy is what kills franchises and makes it impossible for them to be successful. The Flames are headed well down the path toward a high degree of antipathy toward the club and this past season was the tipping point IMO. There is just so much wrong with this team. From the management to the coaching team, to the owner, to the arena debacle, it is obvious to see how ambivalence can turn to antipathy. It is bad when the local market loses interest, but it is a death knell when the local community works against you and what you are trying to do. The Flames have reached the point of antipathy IMO, largely on the shoulders of Edwards and the arena. Their next moves are crucial as they have to restoke the fires of enthusiasm to counter the conditions they themselves have created, otherwise they may have really screwed themselves.
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Lanny_McDonald For This Useful Post:
Dan Snyder is uniquely terrible as an owner, but some of the anti-fan things and loss of generations due to mediocre teams rings true for the Flames.
Very interesting. I think the Flames will struggle with the younger generation in capturing them to be diehard fans. The McDavid effect in Alberta is real and after last years playoffs its only growing.
The Following User Says Thank You to kukkudo For This Useful Post:
Apathy is setting in a bit. Still a fan but there's some serious chop the organization needs to navigate. We got the long term vets locked up, it's time to freshen up the joint with a solid injection of youth. You could tell this season that the team simply didn't have enough.
__________________ "Everybody's so desperate to look smart that nobody is having fun anymore" -Jackie Redmond
Have been a hockey junky for six decades and a Flames fan since the first season. I've lived and died with this team and bled the colors, even while moving to other markets with better and more successful teams to support. But you can take the boy out of Calgary but you can't take Calgary out of the boy, so I have always stayed true to my team. Unfortunately my love affair with this club has become abusive and toxic through a never-ending cycle of bad personnel hires and decisions which has taken the joy out of supporting the team.
For me, I've kind of become ambivalent to the team. I used to watch every game start-to-finish regardless of outcome, just couldn't turn it off. Even during years of mismanagement. To go from insane hockey junky to not really caring is a tough turn, but a long one coming. I could document the watershed moments (Fleury and the disintegration of a championship team, mishandling Iginla, and the Treliving era) but this would turn into a book.
Suffice to say the low point was this past season. Treliving assembled a decent team on paper, but was saddle with an obstinate antagonist who was supposed to be a partner in achieving success. The guy who was supposed to provide the guidance and leadership to the players and figure ways to use their strengths became uncooperative and adversarial in his approach. He turned every possible positive the team had working in its favor throughout the year into yet another distraction and means to either tear players down or force them into the place he felt they should be in. The team took on this personality and turned into one of the least likeable teams in the organization's history. At that point ambivalence began to evolve more into antipathy. This is also what I have felt brewing in the GTs and PGTs throughout the year.
Fan antipathy is the thing the Flames must protect against. Fan antipathy is what kills franchises and makes it impossible for them to be successful. The Flames are headed well down the path toward a high degree of antipathy toward the club and this past season was the tipping point IMO. There is just so much wrong with this team. From the management to the coaching team, to the owner, to the arena debacle, it is obvious to see how ambivalence can turn to antipathy. It is bad when the local market loses interest, but it is a death knell when the local community works against you and what you are trying to do. The Flames have reached the point of antipathy IMO, largely on the shoulders of Edwards and the arena. Their next moves are crucial as they have to restoke the fires of enthusiasm to counter the conditions they themselves have created, otherwise they may have really screwed themselves.
Great post. For me, 100% agree with everything…in fact, you posted everything I have been thinking, especially as we have both been fans since day 1.
Only thing I would add - for me - my shift started with the Oilers playoff series last year. First playoff against them in 30 years. Losing in 5 in embarrassing fashion with Sutter being out coached by Woodcroft? Did not think was possible.
Same as always; been a fan of this mediocre team for over 30 years and this is the 16th time they've missed the playoffs in that time, I'm used to it. Last year is the most frustrating season I can recall in a while, nothing is worse than when your team is a preseason favourite and they end up sucking, especially when combined with playing a boring style. But I'm sure by next year with my expectations thoroughly checked that I'll be back as usual.
Ready for that standard bounceback season they seem to do the past several years to fill me with temporary hope! Before the disastrous 2024-25 campaign anyway..
Ill be here being a Flames fan until the team moves or I'm 6 feet underground. If the team moves I will stop being a hockey fan in general. The live and die by every win or loss ended for me years ago.
Its soon to be a 40 team league and fans have to come to grip with the likelihood of never seeing a cup in their lifetime is VERY likely. Once you realize that it becomes entertainment, which is all it is meant to be. I'm just happy if they play hard physical brand every night ( Ive always loved a tough team). Win or Lose.. Except against Edmonton. That needs to always be a win.
Being out of the playoffs gives all of us more opportunity to hate against our Rivals. I never knew I was a huge KINGS fan till just recently!
Concerned if Treliving is still the GM. Ten long years, and he's had limited success. It might be wise to move on from the coach too. At this point, I hope they start a retool that gets the team younger since we are strapped with some long-term contracts with players close to or over 30.
__________________
"There are no asterisks in this life, only scoreboards." - Ari Gold
Will support the Flames throughout. Winning is fun, sure. But losing begets the palace intrigue and prospect of roster shuffling that I also enjoy.
I'm one of those people who watch sports but don't get emotionally invested in winning championships, so this upcoming version of the Flames won't dampen the fun for me. Getting angry at not winning the Stanley Cup (or whatever championship) is a tough way to live since you'll just be an angry human being for 95% of the seasons you watch across sports. That's not for me.
Go Flames Go. I'll have fun watching and following regardless of the score.
Will support the Flames throughout. Winning is fun, sure. But losing begets the palace intrigue and prospect of roster shuffling that I also enjoy.
I'm one of those people who watch sports but don't get emotionally invested in winning championships, so this upcoming version of the Flames won't dampen the fun for me. Getting angry at not winning the Stanley Cup (or whatever championship) is a tough way to live since you'll just be an angry human being for 95% of the seasons you watch across sports. That's not for me.
Go Flames Go. I'll have fun watching and following regardless of the score.
100%
I've never understood getting as emotionally invested as the people on tv.
When the game ends and my team's season ends, I clap, smile and move on.
Getting all worked up or god forbid, crying (?!?!?!) is something I've never done.
I dig sports and it's not like hockey is ending any time soon.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to craigwd For This Useful Post:
I'm almost more interested now that the top two centres are not committing to contracts, the terrible season, the GM, the coach, the other UFAs, etc. It will be a very interesting off season.
I would be more interested if they did a rebuild but will still probably watch most games next year. Been a fan my entire life so not going to change my team but watching the team sputter along trying to “compete” with elderly forwards would be frustrating.
Flames fan for life, good or bad. And there has been plenty bad.
I'm like others here.......as you get older you realize there's other stuff, more important things, in life that are just far more important. I'll still watch whatever games I can again next year, but if they lose it's not the end of the world.
I just want some enjoyment. This past year was painful at times. Ugly losses, some poor play, underachieving in so many areas. A lot of players just looked like they weren't having fun at all.
This year was disappointing, no doubt. It's frustrating at times, but no where near the 2 season coached by Glue Gun. This season, as frustrated as I get, I didn't turn off my TV mid game. But during the Glue Gun era, there were games, many games, I just said eff it and turned off the TV. I'll be back the start of next season, cheering the team on.
Will support, but indifference has never been higher, personally.
That's basically me, I didn't watch the Canucks or Predators games when the flames were eliminated. Too many years of pedestrian results in terms of playoff success or high draft picks. That, coupled with the "distinct kicking motion" goal last year, makes me believe the flames will never be given a fair shot in the playoffs again. I still enjoy watching the game, but I'll never pay another dollar for it again.
We've become a developmental squad for American teams. Young players are forced to play for us because of the draft, even if they don't want to come here. Once they have enough time for free agency, they can't seem to get out of town fast enough. The NHL needs to do something to make Canadian teams have a shot at success. Thirty years without a Canadian team winning the Cup is not a coincidence. We're forced to overpay to get players to come play here in the cold. I don't blame Tkachuk, make the same money or more to live in the sun and be able to go grocery shopping without being recognized and bugged for an autograph.
