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

[Teroy]

Said it before: have lived in BC for 20 years. Before that we were ticket holders from day one. Just as stoked now about the Flames as I was back then. Totally annoyed that Telus centre ice doesn't carry the preseason games. Looking forward to tonight's game as it's on Sportsnet. Hopefully they kick the Canuck's butts. Enjoyed last year but this should be an even better one.

[Snuffleupagus]

I think next Wednesday is the biggest opening night I can remember, if we loose to the coilers there will be a depression meltdown around here not seen for many years.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I think next Wednesday is the biggest opening night I can remember, if we loose to the coilers there will be a depression meltdown around here not seen for many years.

The 2010 Eberle shorthanded goal comes to mind.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

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

Do you enjoy watching hockey or do you enjoy reading the ticket sales info and reviewing the flames expense reports?

Personally I tune in for the game, the business I could care less about. I haven't seen a single person buy a jersey with the name of someone in the front office on the back.

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

Do you enjoy watching hockey or do you enjoy reading the ticket sales info and reviewing the flames expense reports?

Personally I tune in for the game, the business I could care less about. I haven't seen a single person buy a jersey with the name of someone in the front office on the back.

Having season tickets for well over a decade I just get disenchanted with the sense of entitlement that seems to plague the entire league. It makes it hard to want to continue to shell out thousands of dollars each year. Maybe if I didn't spend so much it wouldn't bother me as much. But I know if they do well I'll be kicking myself if I don't have playoff tickets. Maybe I'm just paying too much attention to the arena talk? It's hard when these guys want public support but try to win support with half assed proposals and snarky press conferences.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

Having season tickets for well over a decade I just get disenchanted with the sense of entitlement that seems to plague the entire league. It makes it hard to want to continue to shell out thousands of dollars each year. Maybe if I didn't spend so much it wouldn't bother me as much. But I know if they do well I'll be kicking myself if I don't have playoff tickets. Maybe I'm just paying too much attention to the arena talk?

I can totally understand where you are coming from, the arena talk seems to be top of mind everywhere and its tiring.

I personally have decided to completely stop talking about the arena or engaging in it and I'm much happier and excited for the season. Just wait, two games in and Brouwer without a point everyone will forget about the arena and be talking about his contract.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

I can totally understand where you are coming from, the arena talk seems to be top of mind everywhere and its tiring.

I personally have decided to completely stop talking about the arena or engaging in it and I'm much happier and excited for the season. Just wait, two games in and Brouwer without a point everyone will forget about the arena and be talking about his contract.

So then we're still talking about money and not enough about the game. This is the problem I have. Salary cap has helped with parity, but it sucks to be a fan because you have to constantly think like a capologist.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

So then we're still talking about money and not enough about the game.

That was my point LOL.

There will always be something to complain about. Right now its the arena, next its Brouwer's contract, after that Stajan, Sprinkle on some other player that people think is overpaid.

You hit the nail on the head, our kids love this game because they never think about a dollar sign attached to a player.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited. But very cautiously optimistic.

I still think we need an upgrade at forward. Or huge improvements from at least a couple players.

Edmonton had 20 more goals for, and many of the contending teams had even more than that.

So the Flames need to eliminate that gap somehow to take the next step I think. Will a Gaudreau bounce back year, progression with Tkachuk, Bennett and the addition of Jankowski add the needed 20-30 goals? Not sure.

This is why Treliving shouldn't just be content with the current RW depth and production.

The signing of Jagr would make this thread obsolete.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Haven't missed a single Flames game in 10+ years

I am seriously impressed by this, if true. That would be extremely difficult to achieve.

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

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

Honest question. I'm not sure this is the best place to ask it but since there's talk about it in this thread I may as well ask here!

I have never lived in Calgary, so maybe I am not as immersed in it or hear as much about it as you folk that live there. I thought that by and large, Ken King was well regarded by Flames fans. Not even that long ago, I remember reading threads about how great he was sitting in his seat in the stands in one of the corners, about his boisterous mannerisms and big handshakes and now it seems that more flames fans than not have really turned on him. I didn't pay too much attention but it seems to me it happened even before this arena BS started.

When did all this happen and over what, or am I just reading it all wrong and there were always those that didn't like him?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by CampbellsTransgressions

The 2010 Eberle shorthanded goal comes to mind.

Nothing will ever be worse than that.

Seeing that punk score on the illustrious Kipper scarred me.

[daveinspruce]

Unfortunately, I'm feeling the same way. Team just doesn't inspire me to wanna watch.
It's boring.
I don't know maybe it's what the NHL and Bettman have done to this game.
Can't fight, can't hit, cant be extraordinary. Just follow the same boring system....dump chase repeat.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by daveinspruce

Unfortunately, I'm feeling the same way. Team just doesn't inspire me to wanna watch.
It's boring.
I don't know maybe it's what the NHL and Bettman have done to this game.
Can't fight, can't hit, cant be extraordinary. Just follow the same boring system....dump chase repeat.

Even though it's not true that there's no fighting and no hitting, it does seem like a more passionless game than I remember it being in the 80's & 90's. Or maybe it's just that my passion has diminished. It's a chicken-egg thing.

Players are over-coached; there aren't many standout personalities like Lanny or Esa Tikkanen to either love or hate, or amuse us off the ice; three lockouts in 20 years dampened my enthusiasm; canned announcers and interviews are sleep-inducing; there are too many teams IMO; the business aspect and lame corporate influence (such as on building names) are a turn-off...

All that said, after being a Flames fan for about 30 years since I was a teenager, they're my team through and through. There's enough skill in the game for it to be entertaining, and the salary cap has made being an armchair GM a more interesting and challenging exercise. But living and dying with the team doesn't seem to be happening for me.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by Sandman

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.

I think the reverse is true. There are so many dazzling plays a la Ovechkin, or amazing Gaudreau-esque passes that we become a little desensitized to it. Also, the shootout has made breakaways & penalty shots seem almost ordinary: "Oh, another Forsberg one-hand-on-the-stick move? Cool beans."
Now, end-to-end rushes like those of Bure and Lemieux seem to have died. I do miss those. The quality of defence and the emphasis on two-way forwards may be killing the end-to-end rush.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by heep223

I am seriously impressed by this, if true. That would be extremely difficult to achieve.

It might help that I'm only 19 and didn't have to worry about a job for the longest time haha.

The closest game I ever came to missing was a game against the Flyers when I was in Grade 7. I believe it was the 2010-11 season and it was an afternoon game. I had missed the first period (only period I've missed) but when lunch time rolled around, I raced to my Math teacher's homeroom because she was a huge Flames fan herself and she was watching the game online. Once lunchtime ended, the game wasn't even close to over. Luckily, she was the best teacher around and didn't have a class to teach next period and I kid you not, she called my science teacher (I had science right after lunch) and told him she needed my help for the period. We finished watching the game (overtime was insane. I'm pretty sure that's the game the Flyers had their OT goal waved off because Pronger pulled an Avery) and that was that.

As sad as it may seem, I schedule my life around the Flames for the most part

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Spinach

I think the reverse is true. There are so many dazzling plays a la Ovechkin, or amazing Gaudreau-esque passes that we become a little desensitized to it. Also, the shootout has made breakaways & penalty shots seem almost ordinary: "Oh, another Forsberg one-hand-on-the-stick move? Cool beans."
Now, end-to-end rushes like those of Bure and Lemieux seem to have died. I do miss those. The quality of defence and the emphasis on two-way forwards may be killing the end-to-end rush.

Thank you for being respectful in your disagreement with my post. I would still say that while there will always be top-end players making amazing, skillful plays, it doesn't happen with near the frequency that it used to on a game-to-game basis IMO

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Sounds like an emphatic no. Okay, my apologies for bumming people out.

Don't apologize. I'm definitely a fair-weather fan by most standards here.

I haven't paid to go to a Flames game in well... maybe never. I'll gladly go to a game if the tickets are free, but I can't believe that so many people can justify spending that amount of money on season tickets just to sit in uncomfortable seats and pay even more money to drink a beer and eat a hot dog while watching mediocre hockey night after night.

I still watch them on TV, but only if it's against a team I care about or convenient (or playoffs). I'd bet I only watch 5 games a year on TV (excluding playoffs).

I guess I'd have to say that I'm a Flames fan, but I'm not a fan of the business of NHL hockey. I don't think there is nearly enough value for what they expect you to pay for tickets. A lot of different activities fight for my entertainment dollars, and Flames tickets have never had the value I look for.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by heep223

I am seriously impressed by this, if true. That would be extremely difficult to achieve.

With PVR, it's not that hard to watch every game.

I haven't missed a game in 15 years and even the games I watch live I will record them and re watch again.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Spinach

Even though it's not true that there's no fighting and no hitting, it does seem like a more passionless game than I remember it being in the 80's & 90's. Or maybe it's just that my passion has diminished. It's a chicken-egg thing.

Probably both. There is less emotion in the game today. Except during a tough play-off series, the players today don't hate their opponents the way they used to. There's so much player movement, guys always have friends on the other team. They have the same agents, they train together in the off-season. Players no longer bleed for the jersey they wear and want to shred the jersey of the other team.

Combine that with the intensive coaching and need to play error-free hockey, and you have a game that is technically excellent, but often flat and boring as a spectator.