How bad is this years Flames? $8 tickets bad

[2ArmBands]

I'm a dumbass...keep paying for season tickets and continue to go to 20-25 games a year regardless of the team. Just a hopeless romantic I guess and a sucker for punishment. But hey...at least I can hang my hat on the fact that its people like me that actually keep the team in Calgary... right?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Personally I think the atmosphere at the Dome just sucks. The price of going to a game (tickets, food, etc) is so high that it squeezes out many of the rowdy types who want to go to have fun and make noise. You end up with a building full of people just quietly sitting and watching a game.

The music is so loud between whistles that it prevents the crowd from starting chants because nobody can hear it.

I wish NHL buildings would copy soccer and have supporters sections, where everyone knows they can stand/cheer and people around them will actually join in. These tickets are often amongst the cheapest in the building too.

For me, it’s not that I can’t afford to go to a game now and again, but rather that I just simply don’t see the value.

Whoever chooses music for the Flames needs to get sent to the minors. It is badly in need of a refresh. Its super loud and repetitive. Good thing the Flames haven't scored in awhile because I am so incredibly sick of T.N.T. you're dynamite...

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

I'm a dumbass...keep paying for season tickets and continue to go to 20-25 games a year regardless of the team. Just a hopeless romantic I guess and a sucker for punishment. But hey...at least I can hang my hat on the fact that its people like me that actually keep the team in Calgary... right?

Yep. If I lived in the area I would have season tickets. Its like a drug.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

This is a big deal in my opinion that could potentially kill off a few of the Canadian markets over time. Every year, the number of NMCs increases and it will eventually get the point that only players on ELCs won't have them. For a league that uses trading a one of the primary ways to build a competitive team, it puts most of the Canadian markets, and even a few American markets at huge disadvantage.

It's especially a kick in the teeth when you look at how much revenue and TV money the 7 Canadian teams bring in compared to the remaining 25 American markets. The players sure love getting that money, but they wouldn't be making as much without the Canadian markets.... yet more and more are refusing to play here.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Fans seem to be in denial about how bad this is. On a lot of teams, three-quarters of the veterans have NMCs. The cap and NMCs make trades in today’s NHL difficult full-stop. But the options available to the GM of a small-market Canadian team to improve his roster through trades are much worse. The great majority of trades batted around by fans - even the ones that are balanced in hockey terms - are non—starters for Calgary due to the cap and NMCs.

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

I also think the players are living in a fantasy world on this too. They seem to be all too happy to reap the benefits of revenue from Canadian markets providing salary cap space but not willing to play there because the fans care. It’s a uniquely NHL situation, in the three big sports do you think the superstars can toil away in anonymity and collect big pay cheques -nope. The players may be on the verge of finding out in markets like Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton that the golden revenue stream isn’t guaranteed.

I definitely think the NMC/NTC option is a problem that the NHL is going to have to address in the near feature. For the long term health of the league, you can't be allowing star players to essentially only play for one quarter of the league due to blocking transactions to the remaining three quarters. The league needs star players in all of their markets to draw interest, and teams need to have fair abilities to access, and retain them.

It's a problem they've created, and will have to rectify. It would be a significant concession for the NHLPA, so the NHL would likely have to give up something big in return. But the league can't continue down this path. Otherwise might as well return back to being a 6 team league that only have teams in the sunbelt and NE metro.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yep. If I lived in the area I would have season tickets. Its like a drug.

A bottomless pit of wasted money that leaves you with no real long-term benefit that takes you away from important things like family? One that provides a fleeting experience that is over before you know it?



/season ticket holder since 2009.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I think I've been saying this now for years that the NHL is abusing their paying customers in a short-sighted attempt to jack up the salary cap. It's a gate driven league and they've completely driven away the paying public especially in canada. Absurd concession prices and overpriced tickets, I'm glad ownership is feeling the pinch. There needs to be a serious rethink of the game day experience and price is just one aspect

I live in Lethbridge and I used to drive up two to three times per year to go to a game. Some years I got to go only once because of my busy schedule with my kids's hockey but I would make the effort for at least one game. Now? The cost of tickets, the cost of gas... the price is not worth my attempts to make time for a game. I can't afford to go anymore.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Fans seem to be in denial about how bad this is. On a lot of teams, three-quarters of the veterans have NMCs. The cap and NMCs make trades in today’s NHL difficult full-stop. But the options available to the GM of a small-market Canadian team to improve his roster through trades are much worse. The great majority of trades batted around by fans - even the ones that are balanced in hockey terms - are non—starters for Calgary due to the cap and NMCs.

And all this is the reason why you see those teams sign the guys they can. When a Blake Coleman expresses that he would like to play in Calgary - that's the guy you sign because that's the guy you can sign.
Of course you can choose to just not play in the free agent waters at all. And in many cases would probably end up in a better place as a result.

[blankall]

Concession prices are also keeping me away from games. If I can't have 3-4 beers and a snack for an affordable price, I'm not going to a live event. The price of beer is outrageous. I was charged $12 plus a tip ($13.50 total) for a tall boy can of beer at the Tool concert last week. It was $8 a couple of years ago for the same product. I guess the thinking is if their costs go up by 50 cents on the beer, they'd better keep the margins the exact same and increase the total price $4?

Needless to say, I only purchased that one beer.

This was after paying $200 for a ticket, about 80% more than the price I paid for the exact same show 5 years ago.

As far as as the NHL goes, for $200ish all in, I should be able to go to game (maybe not the best seats) with a spouse/kid and get a few beers and snacks like hot dogs and pop corn.

And yes, I agree a huge issue is that the games are now totally exclusionary to various segments of society. The local sporting team is supposed to be something the whole community can enjoy together.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

And all this is the reason why you see those teams sign the guys they can. When a Blake Coleman expresses that he would like to play in Calgary - that's the guy you sign because that's the guy you can sign.
Of course you can choose to just not play in the free agent waters at all. And in many cases would probably end up in a better place as a result.

Off topic, but Blake Coleman was coming off back to back Stanley Cups with TB, where he was seen a high energy contributing force on those cup team.

There was a lot interest in Coleman. Did the Flames overpay? Sure, that's how free agency goes. But it wasn't a case of Coleman being the "guy you can sign". He was a very sought after commodity.

Coleman remains a solid player. It's just becoming obvious that the last couple years of his contract are going to hurt. The only reason that seems painful is because the Flames have wasted the first part of his contract.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I think I've been saying this now for years that the NHL is abusing their paying customers in a short-sighted attempt to jack up the salary cap.

The NHL (which is the owners) has no interest in jacking up the salary cap. They would prefer it was much lower. What they do want is to maximize revenue. And they clearly feel the best way to do that is to cater to corporate clients and the affluent.

Makes sense in the short-term - if you can guarantee high customer-spend with box seats and premium food and drink, and the market supports it, then why not.
The problem is their neglect of working and middle-class fans is eroding the base of the market. And if the whales find something else to spend their money on, the league is in trouble.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Don't forget Connor McDavid talk in the intermissions

That is something that would entice me to go to the games.

[Table 5]

20 years ago I was a rabid, all-consuming Flames fan, and would travel to other cities to see the Flames play. 10 years ago, I was happy to split season tickets. 5-6 years ago, the value proposition erosion of a live game started to become really apparent, but I'd still go to a handful of games. 2-3 years ago, I stopped going altogether and just stuck to watching games on TV. This season, I didn't even bother re-upping Sportsnet.

I know a big part of this is me getting older and priorities changing, but it's been a slow descent into sheer apathy around this team and league. Checking in on CP seems like the last step, and that's more of a habit than anything.

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by Table 5

20 years ago I was a rabid, all-consuming Flames fan, and would travel to other cities to see the Flames play. 10 years ago, I was happy to split season tickets. 5-6 years ago, the value proposition erosion of a live game started to become really apparent, but I'd still go to a handful of games. 2-3 years ago, I stopped going altogether and just stuck to watching games on TV. This season, I didn't even bother re-upping Sportsnet.

I know a big part of this is me getting older and priorities changing, but it's been a slow descent into sheer apathy around this team and league. Checking in on CP seems like the last step, and that's more of a habit than anything.

You basically described myself as well. The Flames haven't done anything in decades and its become a real soul-sucking time wasting experience.

For the price of two people going to a game, you could go have a really great dinner with drinks, and still watch the game if you wanted to. And likely spend less.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Joborule

I definitely think the NMC/NTC option is a problem that the NHL is going to have to address in the near feature. For the long term health of the league, you can't be allowing star players to essentially only play for one quarter of the league due to blocking transactions to the remaining three quarters. The league needs star players in all of their markets to draw interest, and teams need to have fair abilities to access, and retain them.

It's a problem they've created, and will have to rectify. It would be a significant concession for the NHLPA, so the NHL would likely have to give up something big in return. But the league can't continue down this path. Otherwise might as well return back to being a 6 team league that only have teams in the sunbelt and NE metro.

If I'm the PA that conversation starts with the escrow.

[klikitiklik]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Checking in on CP seems like the last step, and that's more of a habit than anything.

CPuck seems to be my only strong connection at the moment.



No one wants to go for beers anymore to watch this team. It was a tradition that at least once every two weeks without fail a big group of us would get together and watch the game at the Brewhouse.



Slowly dwindled in the last two years and have now completely stopped. It is just no fun watching this soft, unlikable team.

[CedarMeter]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

You basically described myself as well. The Flames haven't done anything in decades and its become a real soul-sucking time wasting experience.

For the price of two people going to a game, you could go have a really great dinner with drinks, and still watch the game if you wanted to. And likely spend less.

Ditto. Use to go to 30 games a year. Now I only go to 2 or 3. I just have no interest anymore.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

If I'm the PA that conversation starts with the escrow.

Escrow is just a function of the revenue share though isn’t it? So really what you are talking about is increasing the percent of revenue to the players. Escrow is the issue it is because it got so out of whack during the pandemic. Salaries didn’t drop but revenue did thus the players owed the owners money becaus they got more than their allocated share.

The Atlanta Falcons and their model around concessions is of interest to me. I think the in game experience can be made more affordable and attractive thus keeping the seats full. Although cheaper booze with some of the behaviours I see is maybe not high on my list.

[dirk diggler]

Once the new building opens, i will likely go to a game and then that's it. They will make it so expensive then, it wont be worth it. its already not worth it.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

Once the new building opens, i will likely go to a game and then that's it. They will make it so expensive then, it wont be worth it. its already not worth it.

That's definitely an annoying part of the new arena situation. The team says they need a new arena to bring in more revenue. Well, more revenue means charging the fans more. Asking tax payers to pay for the building so they can charge those same tax payers more to watch games is a nice gig if you can get it, I guess. Sports economics is pretty broken, and I don't see a lot of teenagers caring about team sports like they used to when I was a kid (with football being the possible exception).

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

Once the new building opens, i will likely go to a game and then that's it. They will make it so expensive then, it wont be worth it. its already not worth it.

"They" can make it however cheap or expensive they want. The true worth of the tickets is reflected in sales on the secondary market.

The only time the primary market is worthwhile for a consumer is if "they" set the prices artificially low.