Fan support going forward - where do you stand?

[jlh2640]

I like Sutter, but so much happened this year and late last year. I am ok if they reset with mostly the same group, Sutter and Brad come back together and we try again. But I cannot see any scenario where that transpires.

[TheScorpion]

Well, after reading this thread, glad I'm not the only one.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by USflamesfan

I never have seen such bad puck luck for the Flames this year. If some things went a little different in OT and in 1 goal games we would be talking playoffs right now. I will watch next season as I always do.

4 of their OT/SO losses were against teams that had a points percentage sub 0.500 and 2 regulation one goal losses were to sub 0.500 teams.

They played 22 games against teams with points percentages sub 0.500 and won 10 of those games. I don't necessarily know how that compares league wide but I feel those games have to be won more frequently in order to get into the playoffs.

[Psytic]

Have to be honest I was already checked out half way through the season. The games are second monitor matieral while I watch something else on the main TV. I know I was happy when Sutter came back but he just doesnt seem like a fit for this group going fwd. I'll be back as a full time fan when he is gone.

[RoadGame]

3 wins against the Blackhawks and we're having a different conversation... about why we almost never get out of the first round.

I'm not as convinced as most that Sutter needs to go, partly because I don't know who we'd replace him with who would be better. Other than Bob Hartley there hasn't been a coach I have liked more than Sutter in an average year since our cup. Looking around the league (even at a sampling of ATLs) coaches are often the target of angry fan bases. I remember how much the Dallas fans hated Rick Bowness during our playoff series and it's not like that disqualified him from one of 32 job postings this year.

I don't know if I am just feeling more at peace with our inevitable mediocrity, but if I set the bar for happiness at a deep playoff run or even a cup win, Flames hockey is going to do nothing but make me miserable. So instead I'm taking enjoyment from a game where there is good skill on display, with some passion from guys like Stetcher... obviously I want playoffs and the rest of it too, but we've had enough track record here to know we're probably looking at being a middling team going forward.

I buy a couple tickets a year, will probably keep doing so opportunistically when they're playing well. As for merch, I did just buy a reverse retro... I'm lucky to have a decent jersey collection (6) so at this point if they put ads on the jerseys I'll be sitting on my wallet. We have a beautiful uniform, don't mess it up for a small uplift in revenue.

So yeah, I'm not super upset about how the season ended because it seemed we were destined for 9th or a quick 1st round exit no matter what. Honestly I'm more worried about relocation the longer the arena saga drags on. None of this matters if suddenly we're keeping company with the Hartford Whalers and Atlanta Thrashers.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by RoadGame

3 wins against the Blackhawks and we're having a different conversation... about why we almost never get out of the first round.

I'm not as convinced as most that Sutter needs to go, partly because I don't know who we'd replace him with who would be better. Other than Bob Hartley there hasn't been a coached I have liked more than Sutter in an average year. Looking around the league (even at a sampling of ATLs) coaches are often the target of angry fan bases. I remember how much the Dallas fans hated Rick Bowness during our playoff series and it's not like that disqualified him from one of 32 job postings this year.

I don't know if I am just feeling more at peace with our inevitable mediocrity, but if I set the bar for happiness at a deep playoff run or even a cup win, Flames hockey is going to do nothing but make me miserable. So instead I'm taking enjoyment from a game where there is good skill on display, with some passion from guys like Stetcher... obviously I want playoffs and the rest of it too, but we've had enough track record here to know we're probably looking at being a middling team going forward.

I buy a couple tickets a year, will probably keep doing so opportunistically when they're playing well. As for merch, I did just buy a reverse retro... I'm lucky to have a decent jersey collection (6) so at this point if they put ads on the jerseys I'll be sitting on my wallet. We have a beautiful uniform, don't mess it up for a small uplift in revenue.

So yeah, I'm not super upset about how the season ended because it seemed we were destined for 9th or a quick 1st round exit no matter what. Honestly I'm more worried about relocation the longer the arena saga drags on. None of this matters if suddenly we're keeping company with the Hartford Whalers and Atlanta Thrashers.

Mitch Love or Andrew Brunette for science and play lots of kids. It would at least be entertaining.

[RT14]

I have been a diehard Flames fan since the 80’s and have watched as many games as possible my entire life. Watching them against the Oilers in the playoffs last year and then having Johnny and Tkatchuk leave killed any passion I had left in this team. I honestly didn’t watch a single game this year for the first time in as long as I can remember and I don’t feel like I missed anything.

This roster with this coach will never inspire me to watch another game.

[ResAlien]

I’m at that Brent or GG level of caring now. They’ve once again beaten the passion out of me. I’m sure that like any useful idiot of a fan I’ll come back again when the inevitable pendulum swing to a playoff push and first round loss comes but for now it’s a lot of meh.

[Drunk Uncle]

I have been a fan since the 80's and I haven't missed a game in over 5 years. I love the game of hockey and the Flames are my team through thick and thin. My support has and never will waiver.

Each iteration of the Flames always brings intrigue. It usually starts with interest about how the new players will gel with existing players (obviously not very well this year). Then it moves to draft intrigue. Then free agency and trades to address their needs (coaching and player changes). Then excitement about the upcoming year. Then enjoyment riding the rollercoaster during the year. Then gripping my scotches extra tight and cheering extra loud during the playoffs.

The team winning the cup is irrelevant to me. One team does it every year. Every year every team has an extremely low probability of winning a cup.

Personally, I hope the Flames enter into a rebuild that includes us picking elite talent at the tippy top of the draft for a couple years. If they don't, I'm still going to cheer my ass of for the team I love. I'm still going to be invested in the changes they make and optimistic about how next year will go.

[Mathgod]

It's going to be very hard to stomach another year of muck & grind, dump & chase hockey.

It's one thing to not be a contender - it's another to not be a contender while playing a boring style of hockey.

If the team isn't going to contend anyway, at least give me up-tempo, skilled hockey, played by fast, hungry, determined players.

[hah]

I will probably only renew my season tickets if I can get a parking pass, as some nights it was a mess getting into the Stampede grounds.

The media covering the Flames are mediocre at best. The new Barn Burner has some good takes about the state of the Flames and the "Hockey Talk" after the game is appreciated for letting the fans a say.

I asked number of media on CP and via email to investigate the Kylington issue and no one has reported to the fans other, than the party line or nothing at all.

I really don't care if we get an new arena or not. My preference would be if the owners pony up, the tickets prices will go up anyway. If they do build, I would love to see it on the Tsu Tina land, away from the Stampede grounds and City of Calgary control.

Wrapping up my rant E=NG, remember the 04 run and 89 Cup, now I feel better lol.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I enjoy the highs
The lows barely bother me.
I'm fascinated to see what happens next.
It's a fun distraction for me. Nothing more nothing less.

[WCW Nitro]

Interested for see Pelletier's development and if there will be any front office/coaching shakeups. And only one team wins the Cup so a few fewer weeks of hockey due to not making the playoffs is whatever.

[shermanator]

I started this thread 6.5 years ago titled "I'm becoming a fair weather Flames fan. Am I alone?". Maybe I need to go back and update the title, because the last few years I couldn't have cared less about the Flames.

The last season I really cared about was 2014-15. I've turned down free tickets to games. I can't watch more than a minute or two before turning off the game. When I peak into the FOI forum so many of the threads are ####shows which reflects poorly on the fan base as a whole, even if the posts are coming from a minority.

All my attention has shifted to Cavalry and quite frankly it's never going to shift back to the Flames.


https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=157995

[GreenLantern2814]

I watched fewer games this year than any since 2003.

They’re my team. I’m not finding another one. I don’t live and die with the results anymore, and probably won’t ever again, but that’s just part of growing up.

When playoffs come around, when they have an especially talented group or hotshot prospect like Johnny on the rise, I’ll probably take more notice.

But this product isn’t interesting enough to devote three hours a night to 82 times a year just for the sake of it.

[cannon7]

Treliving doesn't know how to build a competitive NHL franchise. I'm not sure how many more years he needs to prove it. As long as the Flames make a change here there is hope that the replacement will be better. The replacement will be walking into one hell of a mess, though.

[sch19lks]

Born and raised Calgarian living in Ontario now. The late starts suck. All year after a bad game I’d say to myself, “not staying up until 1 AM to watch this trash tomorrow”, then tomorrow would come and I’d stay up until 1 AM watching. Easily the most frustrating season for me, but I just can’t not watch. I love this team too much

[FireGilbert]

The season was a huge disappointment but it definitely wasn’t boring. So many close games that could have gone either way including all the OT games. Also had meaningful hockey until game 81 and I can count the number of games that were blowout losses on one hand. Taking off my Flames glasses there were at least 20 games this year that a neutral fan would call amazing. Disappointing, heart breaking, and frustrating but not boring.

I’m a Flames fan for life and am optimistic for next season just based on their recent pattern of alternating good and bad seasons. Also expecting a new coaching staff, a few roster tweaks including adding rookies, Huberdeau/Weegar continuing their great play of late, and UFAs playing for contacts to help.

[Two Fivenagame]

Been a die hard fan for over 30 years and this year was the first time I didn't watch a single game. I honestly would love the city to say no to the billionaires and they move their franchise to Houston. Go ahead!! CSEC is a nasty corporation.
The open Dave Smith for mayor campaign
Edwards moving his house to London so he can reduce his taxes
Laying off support staff the millisecond the NHL season was cancelled. The flames were the first to do so if I'm not mistaken.
Asking for hundreds of millions of tax payer money for a new stadium while underfunded healthcare staff and educators are burning out right after COVID.

I was cheering for losses this season and LOL'd when they were eliminated because I hope the front office will finally be blown up.

F=NG

[Dion]

I'm 64 years old and have been following the Flames since they came to Calgary in the 80's.

My interest in Flames and the game is no longer what it used to be. I took the game so serious back in the 80's where I would be devastated every time we lost to the Oilers. I lived and breathed hockey back then. Today the game is a form of entertainment for me where I enjoy the highs and not get too down about the lows.

I look at all the young prospects we have and feel a sense of optimism going forward. Sure we had a bad season but I feel it was a season of what could go wrong did go wrong. I expect next year to be much better.

I have an avid interest with this off season in particular. Will Sutter coach next year and will Tre continue to be our GM? Plus with all the UFA's on expiring contracts next year, who stays and who will get traded will add some interesting scenarios.

Overall I will always be a fan of the team no matter how well they do.