Flames’ attendance

[Huntingwhale]

Wife and I went a few weeks ago and had a blast. Bought some tickets from gametime.co for super cheap, had the first row of the PL section. Our own washrooms, bar, etc. Was her first game ever, Flames won, crowd was great. Overall a solid experience.

But hard to say if we will go back this season. $14 beers is beyond stupid. WTF is this, Ibiza prices for a draught beer? $15 for popcorn and pop that cost less than 50 cents to produce? Nah man, screw that. Obviously the 'Dome is old, and I can live with that. But I was keeping an eye out for how much it has aged and I really noticed the cracks everywhere, ripped paint, old-ass railings and other nicks that need fixing. I don't mind the music or light shows, but let's not pretend this is a Vegas-quality production.

It was a good time for sure and the wife enjoyed it, so I'm sure we'll be back at some point. More than anything it motivated us to catch an NHL game in another city with a more modern venue. I think the new arena will do wonders for the experience, but it will always have the cloud of taxpayers getting ripped off hanging over it. As well, those prices...woof. I hate when people say hockey is for everyone because it very clearly is not. Only those who are privileged and well-off can afford to send their kids to play and likewise for attending. That will be immensely more true once the arena opens and prices for literally everything inside are raised.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by ST20

Lower second bowl seats at the dome are the best seats in any arena. It is like being higher up in the lower bowl in a newer arena where the glass does not obstruct your view but closer to the action because of the smaller lower bowl. The angle is great.

That being said, if you are far from the centre ice but before the end where the seats start to curve into a corner it is actually not the greatest to be so low. I sat in second row of the second bowl in section 214 for a few games and your neck is cranked to one side the entire game. In that case it is better to be a little further back unless you are in the corner where the seats are angled better.

Exactly. And it's something to be aware of going into the New Rink. What they call the 200s at Rogers Place here in YEG basically the PL in the Dome (sans obstructed view but still)

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Exactly. And it's something to be aware of going into the New Rink. What they call the 200s at Rogers Place here in YEG basically the PL in the Dome (sans obstructed view but still)

I recall Brian Burke saying something along the lines that their current lower bowl is BS and is a deficiency of the Dome because its leaves so much revenue untapped by being so small.

New arena undoubtedly will have a huge lower bowl (like you mentioned) to maximized revenue.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

I recall Brian Burke saying something along the lines that their current lower bowl is BS and is a deficiency of the Dome because its leaves so much revenue untapped by being so small.

New arena undoubtedly will have a huge lower bowl (like you mentioned) to maximized revenue.

It's so small because of the renovations they did to add suites in the middle, which ripped into the lower bowl.

My seats were originally in the lower bowl, but are now located on top of the suites in the 2nd bowl.

If you look at the one end of the rink where there are no suites, you can see where the lower bowl used to reach to everywhere.

[Calgary14]

How is T Mobile's lower bowl? I went to a game a few years ago but it was upper bowl. Decent seats and I noticed how steep the stairs were going in/out of the seats

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Wife and I went a few weeks ago and had a blast. Bought some tickets from gametime.co for super cheap, had the first row of the PL section. Our own washrooms, bar, etc. Was her first game ever, Flames won, crowd was great. Overall a solid experience.

But hard to say if we will go back this season. $14 beers is beyond stupid. WTF is this, Ibiza prices for a draught beer? $15 for popcorn and pop that cost less than 50 cents to produce? Nah man, screw that. Obviously the 'Dome is old, and I can live with that. But I was keeping an eye out for how much it has aged and I really noticed the cracks everywhere, ripped paint, old-ass railings and other nicks that need fixing. I don't mind the music or light shows, but let's not pretend this is a Vegas-quality production.

It was a good time for sure and the wife enjoyed it, so I'm sure we'll be back at some point. More than anything it motivated us to catch an NHL game in another city with a more modern venue. I think the new arena will do wonders for the experience, but it will always have the cloud of taxpayers getting ripped off hanging over it. As well, those prices...woof. I hate when people say hockey is for everyone because it very clearly is not. Only those who are privileged and well-off can afford to send their kids to play and likewise for attending. That will be immensely more true once the arena opens and prices for literally everything inside are raised.

taxpayers complained when the dome was built too
death and taxes

also, with the Hitmen and Wranglers anyone that can afford to go to a movie will be able to go to the venue

[Derek Sutton]

If anyone watched the game vs Wild on Tuesday, you have to ask yourself; Why pay money to go watch that? Uninspired, mediocre, overpaid players make for boring games. Not a star on the team worth checking out and the (home team) on ice product does nothing to draw fans.

As long as this version of Huberdeau is making 10.5 million a season, I will never buy a ticket to the game. So entitled, so useless.

[AustinL_NHL]

I think it's a problem that you're going/are starting to see across numerous teams/leagues.

Prices are continuing to go up across the board on an everyday life basis while income treads water and stress starts increasing across the population, leading to much less disposable income and thus forcing people to forego mid-fun but very expensive outings like attending NHL games.

The current financial situation is so dire.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

If anyone watched the game vs Wild on Tuesday, you have to ask yourself; Why pay money to go watch that? Uninspired, mediocre, overpaid players make for boring games. Not a star on the team worth checking out and the (home team) on ice product does nothing to draw fans.

As long as this version of Huberdeau is making 10.5 million a season, I will never buy a ticket to the game. So entitled, so useless.

this is dumb, guy busts his ass...especially last game

Its fine if you don't want to buy tickets, neither do I but that is a poor reason

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Wife and I went a few weeks ago and had a blast. Bought some tickets from gametime.co for super cheap, had the first row of the PL section. Our own washrooms, bar, etc. Was her first game ever, Flames won, crowd was great. Overall a solid experience.

But hard to say if we will go back this season. $14 beers is beyond stupid. WTF is this, Ibiza prices for a draught beer? $15 for popcorn and pop that cost less than 50 cents to produce? Nah man, screw that. Obviously the 'Dome is old, and I can live with that. But I was keeping an eye out for how much it has aged and I really noticed the cracks everywhere, ripped paint, old-ass railings and other nicks that need fixing. I don't mind the music or light shows, but let's not pretend this is a Vegas-quality production.

It was a good time for sure and the wife enjoyed it, so I'm sure we'll be back at some point. More than anything it motivated us to catch an NHL game in another city with a more modern venue. I think the new arena will do wonders for the experience, but it will always have the cloud of taxpayers getting ripped off hanging over it. As well, those prices...woof. I hate when people say hockey is for everyone because it very clearly is not. Only those who are privileged and well-off can afford to send their kids to play and likewise for attending. That will be immensely more true once the arena opens and prices for literally everything inside are raised.

It's 14 now for a beer?

I thought it was 8.50 or something at the last game I attended a year ago (maybe it was longer)

They have no business asking those prices in that venue.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

It's 14 now for a beer?

I thought it was 8.50 or something at the last game I attended a year ago (maybe it was longer)

They have no business asking those prices in that venue.

Beers are 11.75 for a 16 ounce can or 18 ounce draft. Or $6 14 oz beers on happy hour.

[Reggie28]

Originally Posted by Julio

Beers are 11.75 for a 16 ounce can or 18 ounce draft. Or $6 14 oz beers on happy hour.

Are they using smaller cups for happy hour this year? Last year the draft cup during happy hour was the same cup as the regular priced draft.

Unless my memory is foggy from to many happy hour drafts.

[Robbob]

I think the Flames have the cheapest beer in the NHL.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Julio

Beers are 11.75 for a 16 ounce can or 18 ounce draft. Or $6 14 oz beers on happy hour.

So $14 with a tip.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

It's 14 now for a beer?

I thought it was 8.50 or something at the last game I attended a year ago (maybe it was longer)

They have no business asking those prices in that venue.

On one of the main concourse concessions it was $14. When we walked up to PL, it was only $11. Missed happy hour so can't comment on that. Have no idea about the beer tub guy's prices.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

So $14 with a tip.

no way in heck I'd tip someone $2 a beer for the act of handing a can to me.

[SilverKast]

Cost plays a role for sure, we gave up our season tickets as it just isn't enjoyable in the regular season. I don't find the value is there for what they charge. Playoffs is a different story though, that's really the only time it gets to be a lot of fun - and is the primary reason we kept our seats so long.

The atmosphere and game experience for Flames games pales in comparison to a lot of places nowadays. I take my son on road trips to see the Flames so we can see other rinks, and it really highlights what a dump the dome is in comparison. My favorite so far might be Seattle, I could only wish we had a game day experience and rink like what they have.

Still haven't been anywhere quite like the old Chicago Stadium though - the Star Spangled Banner there was always a great experience.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

no way in heck I'd tip someone $2 a beer for the act of handing a can to me.

$2.25 tip for a beer. FAAAAAAAATTTTAAA that noise. I thought I was Daddy Warbucks with a $1 tip.

[mrkajz44]

At best I'll round up to the next dollar, but really I feel like there should be zero tipping at a concession stand. Tipping is out of control.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by Reggie28

Are they using smaller cups for happy hour this year? Last year the draft cup during happy hour was the same cup as the regular priced draft.

Unless my memory is foggy from to many happy hour drafts.

Always been smaller @ Happy Hour...14 oz I believe.