We probably wont see a total overhaul of the uniforms until Rebook decides to rebrand the NHL.
I might be in the minority but its getting old trashing the 3rd jerseys.
Well first off, Reebok has to maintain rights since they're up for grabs again in two years (I believe) and Bauer has shown interest in bidding.
But aside from that, numerous NHL teams have changed their primaries jerseys the past few years. This season alone, Canes and Wild got new uniforms, and Preds changed up their primaries as well. Flames don't need to wait on anyone to change their primaries.
Anyway, what the Flames should do is get around to announcing the damn new arena already.
The Following User Says Thank You to Joborule For This Useful Post:
3) Inprove the during the game entertainment. Bring in a band to play music between puck drops. Have better intermission entertainment (maybe we need a gladitorial ring" Theme nights.
The Flames are a business and until they see less hotdogs, tickets, beers, jerseys, toques, etc. being sold, they will continue to charge as much money as the market will bear. So you can either stop buying stuff and stop going to games until they bend a little bit or you can bite the bullet and enjoy the Flames for what they are: a rebuilding team that is going to lose a hell of a lot more games than they're going to win.
__________________
The Following User Says Thank You to SofaProfessor For This Useful Post:
its funny how different the cfl for example is from the nhl. Fan interaction is carefully monitored and controlled with the players. Meanwhile in the last two or so years of our pod cast we've had 20 stampeders show up in a fans basement to record a show and speak honestly without a lost of cliches.
We've had the stamps president take members of our website out for beers and pizza before the first game of the year and he's bought along coaches and members of the staff. We were even given media access by the stamps.
Its little things like that that push me more into the stamps fanbase then the flames right now, there just seems to be this wall between the franchise and the fanbase.
The flames really need to have events like fan axess. A cool thing would be a fantasy camp where flames fans could pay some money towards charity and then go to an event with flames players and coaches where they get tips on their game for their beer league stuff, and get to feel what a actual flames practice could be like. i'd pay extra to have bob hartley screaming at me for sucking.
"Crunch! Skate faster or you'll be smelling chocolate fumes all day long!"
We know this rebuild is going to be a three to four year grind for the fans and we're going to see some outright terrible hockey during it. We've already heard some mutterings from fans that they're not going to attend the game for lack of value. We don't want to end up like the Oilers with empty seats and probable problems with season ticket renewals. So what should the Flames do to keep the fans content and feeling valued.
1) Because the Flames are not a cap team like in the years previous and the hockey is not going to be great, do they perhaps lower their ticket prices. A drop of 5% could be a significant reverse tax increase and make the fans feel better about what their spending.
2) Have more specials nights. Maybe a free hot dog night or a 2 for 1 beer night (probably not legal), maybe a free T-shirt night with a clever funny slogan about the rebuild. Like a two shirt deal that has one shirt saying "I love watching rebuilding bad haockey" and the other shirt with an arrow that says "I'm with stupid"
3) Inprove the during the game entertainment. Bring in a band to play music between puck drops. Have better intermission entertainment (maybe we need a gladitorial ring" Theme nights.
4) Cheerleaders and dancers (not a fan of it, but eye candy distracts)
5) Future watch games, maybe bring in Abbotsford to the dome for 5 games, or even the Alaska Aces. It lets the prospects learn what it feels like to play in a major league environment and lets the fans see what's happening.
6) Improved interactive apps for the game. Stats look up, highlight videos up to date shot stats. Polls and contests.
7) Appeal to the younger generation. Have more kids based stuff during the intermissions in the concourse. Maybe even have kiddie kennels so the parents can go have a damn beer in peace.
What would you want as a fan to keep your interest going during a game during a rebuild.
This would be a fantastic idea! I for one would buy tickets, assuming they're more affordable than Flames tickets. I would think that the Heat in particular would draw at least as many fans as the Hitmen, far more than they're currently drawing in Abbotsford.
I think they really need to try to sell "hope" in this dark time...which is, in its essence, a distraction from the present.
Some unveiling of the new arena project or district or whatever is in the works will go a long ways to at the very least providing a bit of a diversion while the team focusses on its rebuild. That will get everyone excited.
I don't buy into the process, but I don't have to if it feels like shared pain where everyone is incented to fix it as quickly as possible. If it's just an excuse for the owners to pocket an extra $20m by icing an AHL roster at NHL prices, that will feel a whole lot different.
Or they could rebuild by actually building, and getting a little better each year. I don't think any gimmicks are required in that scenario.
Just me.
I think a lot of STH's are feeling like this is the case. Not just the ones who want the rebuild either. I do support the rebuild fully, don't get me wrong, but not at this price point.
There is a different price point that I am willing to tolerate for a terrible team then there is for a successful one. It has to be around 5-10% across the board.
The Following User Says Thank You to CaramonLS For This Useful Post:
They aren't going to lower prices on anything as long as there is a line up to get season tickets. You might get a discount at Fanattic or something like that.
I do like the gladiator idea at intermission though, pick those annoying greaser fans out of the crowd and throw them in with some lions to entertain the mob between periods.
