I'm becoming a fair weather Flames fan. Am I alone?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

The game absolutely lacks “personality”. I wish we’d see it come back. Where’s Roenick? Theo? Connie?

Dougie Hamilton may have the biggest personality in the entire NHL.

I appreciate the fact that that the players are so athletic, big, and fast, and that the coaches are so smart, and that the goalies are HUGE and athletic, but there isn't the kind of awe-inspiring passing plays, or highlight reel goals like there used to be. There also isn't the same kind of one-on-one battles, or amazing hits. I still love the game though, and I will always be a flames fan.

[Flamefan1]

No fair weather fan here. I am excited about the season. I would be extremely disappointed if Jankowski is not in the starting line-up. I will be disappointed somewhat if Glass and Bartkowski are in the starting line-up, but not so much as with Jankowski out of the line-up. I would be very disappointed and mad if Gazdic is on the Flames (Stockton fine). I would like Gillies as back-up to Smith and will feel very uncomfortable with the other option.

[Phil1111]

Originally Posted by shermanator

At the risk of creating a thread that gets torn to shreds, I just want to see if anyone else has been rapidly losing interest in the Flames lately. I think I’ve become a fair weather Flames fan.

I don’t know what’s happened to me, but in the span of 18 months I’ve gone from planning my week around Flames games, to being completely apathetic about the team or the results. This after about 25 years of being a die-hard fan. I’ve turned down free tickets to go to games. The most I’ve watched of any Flames game this year on TV is about a period. Tonight’s example; I missed the first 10 minutes, watched Dallas get 2 goals in a few minutes, and am not planning on tuning back in.

Some of the factors in my current apathy are as follows:
- Complete mediocrity on the ice outside of the 2003-04 and 2014-15 playoff runs.
- Not being able to afford tickets to games despite a stable middle class income.
- When I am able to get tickets on the cheap, or free, food and drink prices that are getting more and more outlandish.
- The live game atmosphere of a morgue at the Saddledome.
- The CalgaryNEXT debacle.
- Poor production quality of TV broadcasts.
- The same 5 damn commercials every time I do watch a game for more than a few minutes.
- The Oilers and their wonder kids being shoved down my throat consistently.
- A fan base that I seem to not relate to on matters that have nothing to do with the Flames, to the point where I’m calling out other posters needlessly (btw, sorry about that CaptainCrunch).

This isn't isolated to the slow start to the season, I was losing interest last year as well. I didn't know the date of the season opener until the day of the game. I didn't know Korpikoski had a PTO with the club. I never heard of Vey until tonight.

Anyone else?

Classic symptoms of depression. See your doctor and if he can't help you. There are some excellent recommendations for medication in the thread about Scotch Whiskey.

[Jimmy Stang]

I'll admit that my excitement is a little bit muted this year, but I'm still looking forward to my winter ritual of watching hockey in the basement, wine in hand, dogs snuggled in, etc.

My perception of the business side of the club has really taken a nosedive (it had been creeping downward over the past few years already). The CalgaryNext debacle, all of the subsequent tantrums and threats (that aren't really threats, of course, but they definitely are). I am well aware of the charade that needs to happen to get their rink built, but I've grown tired of the antics. I am actually in awe of how poorly the Flames have handled their public relations lately.

But, I'll be sitting there on Wednesday night in front of the TV, wine in hand, and dogs snuggled in. I can't help it.

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

You should get the bolded looked at. That ain't normal.

Lol

[ForeverFlameFan]

I haven't seen the Flames play in 2 years. So I haven't seen Hamilton live, nor Tkachuk, I haven't seen GG's system go, I haven't seen Brouwer be the sucky player you all say he is, I have not seen Gaudreau as a PPG player, and I never saw Elliott play.

I'm probably the most excited person to see the Flames play. I'm so happy it starts in UNDER a week now and no arena drama is going to stop me from it.

[Badgers Nose]

I'm more excited now that my company has ditched its season tickets. More fun to watch games with family and friends than business partners. Also I hate the current state of the Dome. Going to games was a chore.

Flames are facing big expectations. I really enjoyed the rebuild and infusion of new talent, so hopefully this stage will be as fun to watch. I feel a bit more invested in these players (Gio, Brodie, Backlund and the super kids) vs the last time the Flames were contenders (even factoring Iggy, Kipper and Reggie).

BT has done a good/great job with the rebuild. I feel he benefited from some pretty low expectations due to the post Daryl Sutter (coach) non-sense but now that we are hitting crunch time I think he's done well (except in the crease).

So, now would be a bad time to tune out. Whatever happens in the next 2-3 years it will be fun to watch. I'll just ignore the owners vs City BS and enjoy the hockey.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I'm more excited now that my company has ditched its season tickets. More fun to watch games with family and friends than business partners. Also I hate the current state of the Dome. Going to games was a chore.

Flames are facing big expectations. I really enjoyed the rebuild and infusion of new talent, so hopefully this stage will be as fun to watch. I feel a bit more invested in these players (Gio, Brodie, Backlund and the super kids) vs the last time the Flames were contenders (even factoring Iggy, Kipper and Reggie).

BT has done a good/great job with the rebuild. I feel he benefited from some pretty low expectations due to the post Daryl Sutter (coach) non-sense but now that we are hitting crunch time I think he's done well (except in the crease).

So, now would be a bad time to tune out. Whatever happens in the next 2-3 years it will be fun to watch. I'll just ignore the owners vs City BS and enjoy the hockey.

Precisely this.

[BigFlameDog]

Hard no...and if anyone thinks they are actually moving anywhere I have some land for sale west of downtown.

Best to ignore all that as it is unimportant to the on ice product and ultimately irrelevant.

Go (Balzac) Flames Go :-)

[N-E-B]

I'd be lying if I said the arena issue hasn't put a damper on my excitement but I suspect that will all go away come Wednesday.

Flames fan for life here.

[RogerWilco]

Every time Ken King opens his mouth it makes me ask why I even bother with this team.

[etdpratt]

If anything I have become more passionate with the flames than ever before. As someone who has lived outside his hometown of Calgary for over 12 years and living in southern US, Calgary is such an important part of my life and the flames connection is my way of keeping a piece of home.

Not sure if others living outside Calgary have felt similar but when I lived in Calgary growing up I was no die hard. But now living outside I rarely miss watching.a game or following all off season stuff.

My seven year old son is probably one of very few people living here in the state of Georgia that can name most of the players on the team even though he only gets to visit grandparents in calgary once per year.

[MissTeeks]

I just decided to stop reading anything about the on-going arena drama and it's made the preseason much more enjoyable. I haven't been in an arena related thread in like a month. Very helpful.

[OutOfTheCube]

Pretty much with you, though it's more of a fairweather hockey fan in general. I get such limited 'hobby' time with two little kids, I don't often want to use it watching a hockey game that will very likely be boring and end in disappointment.

If either team I like (Buffalo or Calgary) can actually manage to put together a truly great season, my interest would probably perk up again. And I mean really great -- not this barely squeak into the playoffs and don't really have a chance stuff. I'll follow the news and scoreboard watch and throw the occasional game on in the background, but that's about it these days.

[bubbsy]

I have also ignored arena talk... However, got pulled back in with Bettman's statements today.

I don't live in Calgary (anymore), but I always go to as many games as possible when I visit family there every year.

I was so excited to take my son to his first hockey game at the dome in a few weeks when we're visiting. However, I actually don't feel like giving any of my money to the flames anymore so am contemplating boycotting.

I realize it's counter intuitive to do that, as I'm hurting the brand/team and game I love but....

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I have also ignored arena talk... However, got pulled back in with Bettman's statements today.

I don't live in Calgary (anymore), but I always go to as many games as possible when I visit family there every year.

I was so excited to take my son to his first hockey game at the dome in a few weeks when we're visiting. However, I actually don't feel like giving any of my money to the flames anymore so am contemplating boycotting.

I realize it's counter intuitive to do that, as I'm hurting the brand/team and game I love but....

Nah, you should take him to a game at the Dome (at least one) so you have something to laugh about 20 years from now. My dad used to take me to games when I was a kid and now I have fond memories of the Corral.

[btimbit]

Far from fair weather here. I didn't hang in there for the down years just to bail now that things are looking up.

Only things I don't like are on the business and political side of things. Which I just don't care about/pay any attention too anymore.

[Serapth]

The players ability to disappear for weeks at a time makes it easy to tune them out.

What ultimately got me so disinterested in the team, hit more accurately the league was the Wideman effect. Never so blatant the BS of officiating in this league

[Serapth]

However, the addition to Tzachuk Bennet and possibly Lazar, couple with Backlund and Ferland, give me something to cheer for, even on bad nights.

As long as we don't have the kind of goaltending we had half of last year, this year should be more watchable. Watching our goaltending throw away 20+ games was... Painful.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

I became a fairweather fan as a result of school consuming all of my time, which led me to become rational and essentially stop watching after realizing how ridiculous the NHL is with their blatant disregard for player safety and expectation that cities build them arenas where they get to collect all of the revenue from the arena's events, not just NHL games.

The only reason I will be watching any Flames games this year is to watch Jankowski or failing that Bennett if he has a good year. I think it's pretty clear that this team is going to fizzle out in the first round after a master choke job by one of our filler goalies or getting shut down because the team only has 2/3 of a top 6.