Yearly thread of how to catch flames games out of town - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

mesaywee · 09-05-2011, 11:51 PM

I know this thread has been made a million times, I actually remember reading one a few months ago. But instead of searching for the thread i'll annoy you all and make my own.

I've moved to Vancouver for school. Im surrounded by canucks fans and it makes me sick. My girlfriend is a huge fan and it takes everything in my body to stop myself from punching her in her smug face.

I know as soon as hockey season starts my face is going to melt with canucks games polluting all the televisions im put in front of.

What are my best options? Best = cheap and reliable.

I know that rogers sportsnet will show most games. Will ordering Rogers sportsnet west be the best solution here? Or will I have to pay big bucks for centre ice?

JD · 09-06-2011, 12:40 AM

Sportsnet blacks out games not meant for your region, meaning you won't get the Flames (or Oilers) games, even if you have the other channels. For instance, I live in Calgary, have the Sportsnet Pacific channel, but don't get the 'nucks games (thankfully).

You'll have to shell out for Centre Ice. It'll cost you $200 for the season, and I think worth it. I love being able to watch games down the stretch that matter to the Flames as well as the Flames games.

One thing worth noting is that the past couple seasons, the cable/satellite providers have been offering Centre Ice for the first month of the season for free. Kind of irks me when I've already paid for it, but it does get a person hooked and maybe convinced that they need it! Usually in January or so they do another couple free weeks to get people to buy the package they offer for the stretch run.

Galakanokis · 09-06-2011, 09:20 AM

Centre Ice is really the only way. I am in Van and get it every year because it makes my wife oh so happy.

There are a few Flames friendly bars around as well. Library Square if I am not mistaken and I believe there was a girl on here at the end of last season trying to get fans over to bar but I cannot recall names at the moment.

mesaywee · 09-06-2011, 12:34 PM

How is centre ice on the internet? Not sure if i'll be getting cable hooked up. I have a big 24 inch monitor that a good stream would look pretty good on.

I'm just worried about the damn game buffering every 30 seconds.

Resolute 14 · 09-06-2011, 01:23 PM

I dunno about the NHL's online offerings, but CBC's webcasts of HNIC have rarely been problematic.

SeoulFire · 09-06-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesaywee

How is centre ice on the internet? Not sure if i'll be getting cable hooked up. I have a big 24 inch monitor that a good stream would look pretty good on.

I'm just worried about the damn game buffering every 30 seconds.

If you have a decent notebook just run it through your TV - can't comment on the buffering.

Hilch · 09-06-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesaywee

I'm just worried about the damn game buffering every 30 seconds.

Don't worry about that. Honestly one of the best online streaming systems I have seen on the internet. Worth every penny even when living in the Flames region as you get basically every game and it's nice to be able to check out random games throughout the year.

Vulcan · 09-06-2011, 05:27 PM

One of the good things about ordering Centre Ice from Bell TV is that it also gives you the online version. In this way I can pick it up on my laptop when I'm not home. As others have said the quality is very good, depending on your connection.
Shaw may offer the the free online subscription as well, when you order Center Ice.

Not illegal but against Bell Satellite TV policy, you could subscribe to Bell at your Calgary address and than move your receiver to Vancouver. Bell wouldn't know you aren't in Calgary, so you would get Sportsnet West without the blackouts.

Oh yeah and all your schedules would be off one hour.

nwflamesfan · 09-06-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

Centre Ice is really the only way. I am in Van and get it every year because it makes my wife oh so happy.

There are a few Flames friendly bars around as well. Library Square if I am not mistaken and I believe there was a girl on here at the end of last season trying to get fans over to bar but I cannot recall names at the moment.

The name is The King's Head Pub (1618 Yew St.)

Here is the thread.
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=104192

fatso · 09-06-2011, 07:57 PM

+1 for Centre Ice in Vancouver. If you order early, there's a bit of a discount I believe. It's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it.

Lots of Vancouver-based Flames fans 'round these parts. Might be fun to do a get-together this year, at the King's Head or wherever.

mesaywee · 09-06-2011, 09:26 PM

This bringing the shaw box to Vancouver sounds shady but wonderfully perfect. I'll give that a try. Only thing I know might cause a problem is that if the shaw box is unplugged for a certain amount of time you have to call them to reset it. By doing that i'm sure they'd uncover that i'm in Vancouver, but perhaps not.

What am I looking at in terms of costs for game centre live for the entire season? I've looked all over the website and I can't find it.

Thanks for the help guys.

Vulcan · 09-06-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesaywee

This bringing the shaw box to Vancouver sounds shady but wonderfully perfect. I'll give that a try. Only thing I know might cause a problem is that if the shaw box is unplugged for a certain amount of time you have to call them to reset it. By doing that i'm sure they'd uncover that i'm in Vancouver, but perhaps not.

What am I looking at in terms of costs for game centre live for the entire season? I've looked all over the website and I can't find it.

Thanks for the help guys.

I doubt if it would work with Shaw Cable, maybe Shaw Direct satellite but 99% sure with Bell satellite.

mesaywee · 09-06-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I doubt if it would work with Shaw Cable, maybe Shaw Direct satellite but 99% sure with Bell satellite.

Ah I missed the satellite portion of your posts. People still use satellite!?

Vulcan · 09-06-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesaywee

Ah I missed the satellite portion of your posts. People still use satellite!?

For someone asking for help and lacking reading skills, I don't know what to say.

JD · 09-06-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

One of the good things about ordering Centre Ice from Bell TV is that it also gives you the online version. In this way I can pick it up on my laptop when I'm not home. As others have said the quality is very good, depending on your connection.
Shaw may offer the the free online subscription as well, when you order Center Ice.

Hmmm... I've had Centre Ice with Bell for years now and I didn't know about this. It would be useful for me when I'm overseas (unless they block my UAE IP)... thanks, I'll have to look into this!

tripin_billie · 09-20-2011, 03:57 PM

My cable provider (Comcast) doesn't even have one HD center ice channel. I have a computer with HDMI that I plug into my TV and get near HD quality from Gamecenter Live. I love Gamecenter live, I would never go back to Center Ice.

HotHotHeat · 09-20-2011, 03:59 PM

Does Gamecentre Live blackout local games based on IP address? Has anyone tried using a VPN to get around it?

Hilch · 09-20-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Does Gamecentre Live blackout local games based on IP address? Has anyone tried using a VPN to get around it?

Yes it works. I've got around it using something as simple as a proxy. (hopefully this is okay to share)

Justin · 09-21-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD

Hmmm... I've had Centre Ice with Bell for years now and I didn't know about this. It would be useful for me when I'm overseas (unless they block my UAE IP)... thanks, I'll have to look into this!

I've had CI now for about 5 years, and I only found out about this last week. I recieved a letter in the mail from Bell Expressvu telling me that--that particular option was no longer available with the Center Ice package . I was wondering when they were going to tell me I even had the option to begin with