[Rumour] NHL/NHLPA to extend season shorten preseason

[DeluxeMoustache]

When I had season tix, I split them with 3 other guys.

We divided the total cost by the 41 regular season games, and everybody got a preseason game thrown in

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think the season is fine at 82 games and the bigger issue is the length of the playoffs. The final game of the season was June 24th. That's just ridiculous.

But what a beautiful game it was....

[GGG]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I haven't had seasons for a while but they used to be full priced and mandatory purchase for season ticket holders

Though it says you pay for pre-season you don’t really. As a result of adding two regular season games and removing 4 pre-season games you won’t be saving money. It will be made up with a larger increase that year. The package will be a 2.5% greater increase than it would have been without this change.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

It's part of the season ticket package, you have no choice.

They could make them cheaper, but then they would raise the prices on the regular season games to match revenue.

Most season ticket holders who don't want to go sell them for a fraction of the actual cost.

Yeah, for $5-15 I'd go.

Never understood the allure of season tickets where you buy everything and sell what you don't want instead of...buying what you want. But I guess that's off topic.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I just wish they would be underway by the first of October. Pushing the season back to the middle of the second week of October is ridiculous.

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

ESPN and TNT paid big money for the TV rights, so I think they have a lot of pull.

We will just have to get used to the finals ending in late June unless it's sweeps.

I start to tune out anyways during May if the Flames are not involved. The weather is great, the days are longer, I rather spend my time outside so the Finals ending in June isn't that big of a deal. I check the highlights or catch a game. Only thing about this year was that the unthinkable almost happened so it kept me glued in.

We probably have to get used to the Finals stretching out now as well. 2 days in between games when they change cities is probably going to be the norm.

Most of the leagues probably want to be like the NFL and be in the news cycles as much as they can.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Yeah, for $5-15 I'd go.

Never understood the allure of season tickets where you buy everything and sell what you don't want instead of...buying what you want. But I guess that's off topic.

If you go to a decent amount of games the season tickets are cheaper is the obvious answer.

You only go to saturday games or top tier opponent games and your cost per game doubles.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Yeah, for $5-15 I'd go.

Never understood the allure of season tickets where you buy everything and sell what you don't want instead of...buying what you want. But I guess that's off topic.

It used to make sense when the team wasn’t far removed from a Cup run, Iggy and Kipper were two of the best in the league, and tickets were in demand and resale approached face value

And you knew you had playoff tickets if they made it

When demand softened and resale value was STH on a good day, it made no sense. They became more of a hassle to own

[Paulie Walnuts]

If preseason is 4 games, wonder if goes the way of the NFL when you hardly see any vets and the first few weeks of the regular season is your preseason.

[activeStick]

I'm clearly in the minority when I say the more games I get to see, the happier I am. I like hockey and if I had to choose, I'd rather watch more games than less. When spring and summer arrives, I'm definitely out a lot more and missing a lot more games, but selfishly, I'm totally good with getting to watch a hockey game on nights when I happen to be at home instead of not getting to watch hockey when I'm at home.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

It used to make sense when the team wasn’t far removed from a Cup run, Iggy and Kipper were two of the best in the league, and tickets were in demand and resale approached face value

And you knew you had playoff tickets if they made it

When demand softened and resale value was STH on a good day, it made no sense. They became more of a hassle to own

Yeah. I just looked on FansFirst and you can get lower bowl tickets to half the games for less than $200 each. And very often there are second bowl tickets for $60-95. Just seems easier to use that when you feel like going.

Although, if I was in Calgary I'd probably care more about who the other team is. When I buy tickets it's for road Flames games so I don't have a choice on who the other team is.

[redmile04]

Wish they scrapped preseason but this is awesome also, 4 should be maximum. Would ideally do 82 and 4 but this is still better than 82/8. NFL also moving in right direction with 1 less preseason game.

[Torture]

Oh good, an even longer season. 82 games isn't enough?

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Torture

Oh good, an even longer season. 82 games isn't enough?

Agreed but if it means 4 less preseason games and season starting a week earlier, i am for it.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

There needs to always be Caanadian teams playing during Canadian thanksgiving IMO.

This year the holiday is later so they will be, but many years that isn't the case and on those years it's a bummer.

[Robbob]

Yeah as a STH we pay for 45 games and 4 of those are preseason. if it changes to 42 regular season and 2 preseason then I am all for that. Rather pay for meaningful games.

If they want extra revenue in the preseason they could always have preseason games neutral site games in closer smaller venues like Vancouver did in Abbotsford.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

If preseason is 4 games, wonder if goes the way of the NFL when you hardly see any vets and the first few weeks of the regular season is your preseason.

Perhaps, or maybe 1 game- the last game like how it is now.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Perhaps, or maybe 1 game- the last game like how it is now.

For some reason it feels like camp used to be longer? It seems like its 2 practice and games.

It feels like previously they had more time to get systems installed with practices before starting games.

[calgarygeologist]

We don't need more games. We need fewer games so that the existing ones are more meaningful and so that we don't end up in a situation where "load management" becomes crucial with players.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

We don't need more games. We need fewer games so that the existing ones are more meaningful and so that we don't end up in a situation where "load management" becomes crucial with players.

Technically it is fewer games and more of them would matter, so I like it.

Who even remembers what the Flames preseason record was in any past year, but if you name a given season the majority of the people who read this site would remember the regular season and playoffs.

[TheIronMaiden]

removing preseason games is a great idea. hopefully they remove many more than they add to the regular season.