Sven "Fricken" Bartschi!

[moon]

I don't see how the Heat would work in Calgary.

They are exciting to hardcore fans who come to a message board to talk about their team and hockey but to the average fan they don't register that much.

Plus with all the teams/events in the Saddledome already it would be a nightmare to schedule.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Pretty sure if Abbottsford doesn't work out, Calgary could easily take on an AHL team. There is enough support, even if only 5000 or so showed up to the game.

It wouldn't work at all. If we got rid of the Hitmen it could, but there's no way we could support three hockey teams that require season ticket bases to be in the thousands.

Plus, three teams couldn't operate out of the Saddledome, and the Corral isn't fit for proffessional hockey. I mean even if they did somehow schedule all three teams at the Dome, we could say goodbye to the already very few concert tours that hit up Calgary.

It would be an absolute disaster, if not completely impossible.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by flameswin

It wouldn't work at all. If we got rid of the Hitmen it could, but there's no way we could support three hockey teams that require season ticket bases to be in the thousands.

Plus, three teams couldn't operate out of the Saddledome, and the Corral isn't fit for proffessional hockey. I mean even if they did somehow schedule all three teams at the Dome, we could say goodbye to the already very few concert tours that hit up Calgary.

It would be an absolute disaster, if not completely impossible.

If the Staples Centre can handle two basketball teams and a hockey team, while having a bajillion other events occur in that venue, any venue can theoretically handle three hockey teams.

[You Need a Thneed]

Moving the heat to Calgary, even for this season, would just eat away from the hitmen attendance. I don't think there would be a point, revenue wise for the Flames.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Joborule

If the Staples Centre can handle two basketball teams and a hockey team, while having a bajillion other events occur in that venue, any venue can theoretically handle three hockey teams.

I don't think the ice could hold up in the saddledome. I think that is the big factor. With basektball they cover the ice (or given time place a new sheet). The current ice plant at the dome is suspect right now.

[saskflames69]

Is it too late for the Heat to move to Saskatoon? I wouldn't mind watching Sven in person this winter haha.

[Duke43]

Originally Posted by Joborule

If the Staples Centre can handle two basketball teams and a hockey team, while having a bajillion other events occur in that venue, any venue can theoretically handle three hockey teams.

Not to mention they have a bajillion more people to draw from.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Joborule

If the Staples Centre can handle two basketball teams and a hockey team, while having a bajillion other events occur in that venue, any venue can theoretically handle three hockey teams.

I guess I'm not really saying they couldn't do it, just that it would be nealry impossible on different levels.

-The Staples centre juggles those teams because they are all major sports teams, that routinely sell out, so it's justified.

-Los Angeles has other large venues, like the Hollywood Bowl so they don't miss out on major tours due to scheduling conflicts.

-To add to that, not only is the Saddledome our only large venue for major concerts, but Calgary, unlike LA is a city that most tours won't bend over to make sure they hit our city. So we need to have flexibility with dates in order to get those acts in.

-Even in Canada, major city centres don't typically go crazy for junior/minor league hockey, especially when that city already has an NHL team.

-The hitmen are drawing in the 6-7k range with no NHL team to compete against at the moment. You add another non NHL team to the Dome, and you're likely splitting most of the types of fans that will go to Hitmen games regularly, between the Hitmen and Heat. You're not likely going to get a whole different type of fan that doesn't go to Flames or Hitmen games coming out of the woodwork and buying Heat tickets.

-Yes, they are the Flames affiliate, and yes there is always farm team interest from hardcore fans, so a message board like Calgarypuck may give off the impression that there are thousands of Flames fans foaming at the mouth to go see the up and comers on a nightly basis/ But unfortunately that isn't the case with most of the city. The average fan thinking is more along the lines of "I'd rather just watch those players when/if they make the NHL."

So overall, it seems like it could work on paper, but the reality is when you combine the logistical issues of a city with one aging hockey arena suitable for junior/pro teams, with the fact that you'd be putting a junior team and a minor league affiliate against eachother for a small portion of city residents that will pay money to see non NHL hockey, and you've got a recipe for disaster.

[Captain_Obvious]

What about the possibility of a couple games if the lockout cancels the season?

Unlikely because there are season ticket holders in Abbotsford that have already paid for each game but it would be pretty cool to have one or two games held at the dome for Flames fans to get the chance to see the farm team live at the dome if the big club's season is cancelled.

No way to set that up before the Heat's season was scheduled, but if for any reason a game is cancelled (unlikely) it would be really cool to see something scheduled here. Even if it's just a single game.

[nickk382]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

Is it too late for the Heat to move to Saskatoon? I wouldn't mind watching Sven in person this winter haha.

Second that, lol. I haven't been back there since I was born there, so if that happens, it'll be my first return, which I'd love to see.

Do you believe in miracles?

[Username: Flames]

Sven is the hero the Flames deserve, but not the one they need right now and so he'll play in the AHL...because he can take it...because he's not a hero...he's a smiling sniper...a powerplay specialist...a Swiss Knight.

[Mitch]

nm

[flamesrule_kipper34]

^It's the ending line (modified) from The Dark Knight.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't see how the Heat would work in Calgary.

They are exciting to hardcore fans who come to a message board to talk about their team and hockey but to the average fan they don't register that much.

Plus with all the teams/events in the Saddledome already it would be a nightmare to schedule.

The last two games Abbottsford played in the 'Dome pretty much had attendance that would fill the entire lower bowl.

Don't forget - the Flames are building a new arena, and the Saddledome isn't going away - it just wouldn't be the Flames home arena anymore.

I'm pretty sure there is enough fans in a metro area of over 1 million to draw a respectable 5-10k fans per game. This is a city with a insane lust for hockey and alot of money. I believe the Flames season ticket wait list is a good indication of this.

And as for the "cannibalization" of the Hitmen, I don't think it would happen. Different brand of hockey, and fans stay loyal to their teams. Plus, the ticket pricing for Hitmen games allows it to separate from NHL caliber home games. The Hitmen have been around long enough for people to recognize that.

Even in Abbottsford, before they moved to Victoria and after the Heat had already rolled into town, the Chilliwack Bruins were averaging 3400 per game.

I would be optimistic of the Heat succeeding in Calgary, although that doesn't necessarily imply the Flames would be the best owner for both the Hitmen and the Heat. I think the market is here though.

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

The last two games Abbottsford played in the 'Dome pretty much had attendance that would fill the entire lower bowl.

Don't forget - the Flames are building a new arena, and the Saddledome isn't going away - it just wouldn't be the Flames home arena anymore.

I'm pretty sure there is enough fans in a metro area of over 1 million to draw a respectable 5-10k fans per game. This is a city with a insane lust for hockey and alot of money. I believe the Flames season ticket wait list is a good indication of this.

And as for the "cannibalization" of the Hitmen, I don't think it would happen. Different brand of hockey, and fans stay loyal to their teams. Plus, the ticket pricing for Hitmen games allows it to separate from NHL caliber home games. The Hitmen have been around long enough for people to recognize that.

Even in Abbottsford, before they moved to Victoria and after the Heat had already rolled into town, the Chilliwack Bruins were averaging 3400 per game.

I would be optimistic of the Heat succeeding in Calgary, although that doesn't necessarily imply the Flames would be the best owner for both the Hitmen and the Heat. I think the market is here though.

I am 99% sure the Dome would be torn down as soon as the Flames have a new arena. It would be too expensive to maintain a rink of that size without an NHL team as a tenant.

[sureLoss]

Everything I heard about a new arena being built involves the Saddledome being demolished after the new arena is completed. Pretty sure Ken King confirmed that was the plan at one of those season ticket holder meetings.

[Diverce]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

What about the possibility of a couple games if the lockout cancels the season?

Unlikely because there are season ticket holders in Abbotsford that have already paid for each game but it would be pretty cool to have one or two games held at the dome for Flames fans to get the chance to see the farm team live at the dome if the big club's season is cancelled.

No way to set that up before the Heat's season was scheduled, but if for any reason a game is cancelled (unlikely) it would be really cool to see something scheduled here. Even if it's just a single game.

Don't they usually have them play Oklahoma at the Dome once a year?

I know they did it during the Heritage Classic weekend, but I'm positive they played last year at the Dome too. I might be out to lunch though.

I'm sure I'll be corrected.

[flamesrule14]

Originally Posted by Diverce

Don't they usually have them play Oklahoma at the Dome once a year?

I know they did it during the Heritage Classic weekend, but I'm positive they played last year at the Dome too. I might be out to lunch though.

I'm sure I'll be corrected.

Yeah they have played at the Dome the last two years. Not sure why this season they decided not to have a game. Especially with the lockout I'm sure they could have got a decent amount of people to the game.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Everything I heard about a new arena being built involves the Saddledome being demolished after the new arena is completed. Pretty sure Ken King confirmed that was the plan at one of those season ticket holder meetings.

Yes, he has said that.

Originally Posted by flamesrule14

Yeah they have played at the Dome the last two years. Not sure why this season they decided not to have a game. Especially with the lockout I'm sure they could have got a decent amount of people to the game.

I think it's because they're not in the same division as the Barons this season, so they don't play as many games against them. Also, having Eberle, Hall, Hyphen, and Schultz come to town might actually bring some fans to the games in Abbotsford.

[MissTeeks]

Sven is coming up on The Fan 960 right now. EDIT: make that 1:25