Flames’ attendance

[Reggie28]

They used to be $5 for the same beer, at least at the main concourse east side. I was burnt once because the clock on the till was 6:30 + a few seconds and the price for 4 beers went from $20 to $48 (or whatever it was). No change in cups, nothing.

Pro tip when going to the game with someone who wants to get after it.
Roll in around 6:15, straight to the nearest concession. Usually there isn’t a line at that time. Order 4 beers ($20 last year, now $24). Gauge how long it will take to get to your seat and back to the front of the beer line. If time permits, go to the seats and deposit the 4 beer under your seats. Hustle back to the beer vendor and order 4 more beer. 8 beer, $40. If time doesn’t permit, get the first 4 beer, deposit them on a counter, against a wall, wherever, it really doesn’t matter because people leave random beer at the dome alone, but I like to keep them within sight, just in case. Then straight back to the beer vendor for 4 more beer. It is usually wise to go to a different server so you don’t raise suspicions and order 4 more beer. If suspicions are raised, the rules are you are allowed to have 2 beer each and you are standing there with no beer. Now here is where it gets a bit tricky, you have 8 beer and only 4 hands and you can’t walk around with more than 2 each. Usually we would run a relay, one guy runs 2 beer up to the seats, while the other guy waits and monitors the other 6 beer. When he returns, you run 2 beer up while he monitors the 4 beer. When you return, you both casually take the 4 beer up to the seats and reunite them with the 4 beer that are there waiting for them.

Another pro tip, all the way back from 2004, rules are you can only carry 2 drinks. They could be 2 beer, 2 singles or 2 triples. Ran into a guy who had a giant stein, the stein would hold 3 beer, then he would order another beer and walk away with 2 drinks, but was really 4 beer. Not sure if this still flies, but it did back then.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I can't even bring myself to watch this team on TV most nights, let alone paying ridiculous prices to see them live in a crappy old building

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Reggie28

They used to be $5 for the same beer, at least at the main concourse east side. I was burnt once because the clock on the till was 6:30 + a few seconds and the price for 4 beers went from $20 to $48 (or whatever it was). No change in cups, nothing.

Pro tip when going to the game with someone who wants to get after it.
Roll in around 6:15, straight to the nearest concession. Usually there isn’t a line at that time. Order 4 beers ($20 last year, now $24). Gauge how long it will take to get to your seat and back to the front of the beer line. If time permits, go to the seats and deposit the 4 beer under your seats. Hustle back to the beer vendor and order 4 more beer. 8 beer, $40. If time doesn’t permit, get the first 4 beer, deposit them on a counter, against a wall, wherever, it really doesn’t matter because people leave random beer at the dome alone, but I like to keep them within sight, just in case. Then straight back to the beer vendor for 4 more beer. It is usually wise to go to a different server so you don’t raise suspicions and order 4 more beer. If suspicions are raised, the rules are you are allowed to have 2 beer each and you are standing there with no beer. Now here is where it gets a bit tricky, you have 8 beer and only 4 hands and you can’t walk around with more than 2 each. Usually we would run a relay, one guy runs 2 beer up to the seats, while the other guy waits and monitors the other 6 beer. When he returns, you run 2 beer up while he monitors the 4 beer. When you return, you both casually take the 4 beer up to the seats and reunite them with the 4 beer that are there waiting for them.

Another pro tip, all the way back from 2004, rules are you can only carry 2 drinks. They could be 2 beer, 2 singles or 2 triples. Ran into a guy who had a giant stein, the stein would hold 3 beer, then he would order another beer and walk away with 2 drinks, but was really 4 beer. Not sure if this still flies, but it did back then.

This is so well thought out that you all should be grateful for this post.

[FBI]

I hate that DJ just hearing him on tv. Can’t imagine what it’s like live lol
Watching the flames in seattle is fun though.

[malcolmk14]

Obviously my personal anecdotes for attendance are just one viewpoint but I'm sure I'm not alone.

I attended 15-20 games a year from 2005 to about 2015, when I finally made the decision to get season tickets and split them with a friend who I attended most games with. This was my little reward to myself for finishing school and getting a real job. Continued to attend 15-30 games a year until Covid. Was supposed to attend that game against the Islanders that was cancelled day-of.

Dropped the season tickets because of the uncertainty of Covid and because my ticket partner was unsure as well and figured we could just get back in later if we wanted to.

Now it's 2023, I'm 37 years old with a pretty demanding job, a 2 year old, an excellent at-home setup with an 85" TV for watching games, and many other entertainment interests and options and priorities. It's expensive and inconvenient to go to the Dome, and it's just not something I have any interest in committing time and money to. I've simply lost interest in attending games live.

I'll throw games on the TV after the toddler's in bed and if the game is close I will keep them on, otherwise I'll find something else to do. The last year and a half, I've been finding lots of other things to do.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

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

I’m assuming you don’t go out much. The lowest default tip on most card readers these days is 15 per cent, and for many it’s 18 per cent.

15 per cent of 11.75 is $1.76.

18 per cent of 11.75 is $2.12.

You may not tip $2 on a beer, but I expect most people at the Saddledome do.

[GullFoss]

When you step back and think about it:

In 1983 when saddledome was built, population of Calgary was 624,000. Now, the population of Calgary is probably going to be close to 1,800,000 when new stadium is constructed (3x bigger), but it will have less seating capacity

The entire business model is predicated on making the stadium experience luxury and exclusive, thereby driving up the ticket price as high as possible. Nothing about that says "community asset befitting of public subsidy."

It's wild to think that for 98% of calgarians, they're being asked to put their hard earned tax dollars to support the stadium so they can watch athletes on TV put on a jersey with a 'C' on it and so Edwards can maximize his cash flow.

In a way, it's almost sad that the flames are able to still dupe 18,000 people per game into paying for the product. Granted I'm one of those people getting duped, but I'm going to kick my addiction any year now.

[Mr.Coffee]

Pro sports has become more looking like pure unadulterated greed than anything. It’s one thing to argue that market forces drive pricing but it’s another then to ask the public to fund your capital asset and then claim market forces drive pricing.

If the model requires massive subsidy for your capital asset, the answer is lower your prices and by extension player salaries.

It is disgusting that this owner made his enormous wealth from exploiting an Alberta resource, then moved to another country to avoid paying tax on his enormous wealth, and then asked the public to pay for his major capital asset on his luxury toy.

It’s so broken it’s tough to even imagine how we got here.

A baseball player just signed a $700mm contract yesterday. Does this make sense to anyone?

[AustinL_NHL]

Yup.

The US debt grows $5B per day and their total debt ($33 trillion lmao) is over $100k per citizen haha like what!?!?! Canada's at $45,000 per citizen.

That doesn't even make sense and has been proven impossible to overcome by many mathematicians lol

There's a major collision course coming at some point in the near-ish future with this current situation, and there's going to be a massive shift.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

That doesn't even make sense and has been proven impossible to overcome by many mathematicians lol

We had a worse debt to GDP ratio in the 90s and overcame it just fine:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_public_debt

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

When you step back and think about it:

In 1983 when saddledome was built, population of Calgary was 624,000. Now, the population of Calgary is probably going to be close to 1,800,000 when new stadium is constructed (3x bigger), but it will have less seating capacity

The entire business model is predicated on making the stadium experience luxury and exclusive, thereby driving up the ticket price as high as possible. Nothing about that says "community asset befitting of public subsidy."

It's wild to think that for 98% of calgarians, they're being asked to put their hard earned tax dollars to support the stadium so they can watch athletes on TV put on a jersey with a 'C' on it and so Edwards can maximize his cash flow.

In a way, it's almost sad that the flames are able to still dupe 18,000 people per game into paying for the product. Granted I'm one of those people getting duped, but I'm going to kick my addiction any year now.

But everyone gets to feel part of the experience then. Those that get to go to the games get a luxury experience, probably much better than the Dome. The taxpayers get to feel they are part of the team because they can pay for that experience. Win-win.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Pro sports has become more looking like pure unadulterated greed than anything. It’s one thing to argue that market forces drive pricing but it’s another then to ask the public to fund your capital asset and then claim market forces drive pricing.

If the model requires massive subsidy for your capital asset, the answer is lower your prices and by extension player salaries.

It is disgusting that this owner made his enormous wealth from exploiting an Alberta resource, then moved to another country to avoid paying tax on his enormous wealth, and then asked the public to pay for his major capital asset on his luxury toy.

It’s so broken it’s tough to even imagine how we got here.

A baseball player just signed a $700mm contract yesterday. Does this make sense to anyone?

Everything has become completely dislodged from reality in my mind. Although not a big soccer fan, I appreciate and understand the global aspect to it.

One thing I can not wrap my head around is some of the biggest names fleeing for Saudi and other leagues for money that is beyond comprehension for an athlete, who are in essences, employee's of clubs. I am a capitalist and pro businesses/free market etc.

I just can't ever picture or understand how these players can scuff their noses at getting paid 30,40,50 million Euros ($45-75 million CAD) a year and live in the coolest cities in Europe and arguably the world. They would rather be playing in leagues people don't follow to the same degree for 10 times the money, and I get it, I just don't know if I would ever have the balls or the morals to do it.

Wild times all around

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I’m assuming you don’t go out much. The lowest default tip on most card readers these days is 15 per cent, and for many it’s 18 per cent.

15 per cent of 11.75 is $1.76.

18 per cent of 11.75 is $2.12.

You may not tip $2 on a beer, but I expect most people at the Saddledome do.

All of those card readers have a cancel button. People who tip $2 for a guy who turns around and hands you a beer are the worst kind of sheep. They help to enable the issue. Put a tip function on literally any kind of purchase at a card terminal at any kind of business and you will probably see a portion of people tip, regardless if it's a gas station, oil change, Home Depot, whatever. Something clicks in some people's brains when they see the tip screen on a card reader and suddenly their handing over money for no reason other than someone asked them to. It's stupid.

People need to learn to show some balls, sack up, and press the NO button instead of letting themselves get walked on. Prices go up across the board in all aspects of life and people still think they are obligated to tip just because a payment terminal says so? Yeah, no wonder these businesses have their hands in out pocket at every turn. People are dumb enough to do it.

[The Fisher Account]

Being an old fart and always having to wait in line to pee as opposed to watch on my giant television next to my own washroom has eliminated all desire to ever go to the Dome again.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Everything has become completely dislodged from reality in my mind. Although not a big soccer fan, I appreciate and understand the global aspect to it.

One thing I can not wrap my head around is some of the biggest names fleeing for Saudi and other leagues for money that is beyond comprehension for an athlete, who are in essences, employee's of clubs. I am a capitalist and pro businesses/free market etc.

I just can't ever picture or understand how these players can scuff their noses at getting paid 30,40,50 million Euros ($45-75 million CAD) a year and live in the coolest cities in Europe and arguably the world. They would rather be playing in leagues people don't follow to the same degree for 10 times the money, and I get it, I just don't know if I would ever have the balls or the morals to do it.

Wild times all around

If someone came to you and offered you 10 times your wages to go work in Saudi Arabia for a few years - you wouldn't do it?

Its a bubble that will burst since there's only so much value you can get from it on the Saudi side - but not hard to understand why people would do it.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

If someone came to you and offered you 10 times your wages to go work in Saudi Arabia for a few years - you wouldn't do it?

Its a bubble that will burst since there's only so much value you can get from it on the Saudi side - but not hard to understand why people would do it.

There is so much value to be had by sports washing, both domestically and abroad. These players and franchises are helping to keep middle eastern dictatorships in power, thereby increasing the riches of the royal families by billions of dollars each year.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-sportswashing

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Pro sports has become more looking like pure unadulterated greed than anything. It’s one thing to argue that market forces drive pricing but it’s another then to ask the public to fund your capital asset and then claim market forces drive pricing.

If the model requires massive subsidy for your capital asset, the answer is lower your prices and by extension player salaries.

It is disgusting that this owner made his enormous wealth from exploiting an Alberta resource, then moved to another country to avoid paying tax on his enormous wealth, and then asked the public to pay for his major capital asset on his luxury toy.

It’s so broken it’s tough to even imagine how we got here.

A baseball player just signed a $700mm contract yesterday. Does this make sense to anyone?

Post of the year.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Pro sports has become more looking like pure unadulterated greed than anything. It’s one thing to argue that market forces drive pricing but it’s another then to ask the public to fund your capital asset and then claim market forces drive pricing.

If the model requires massive subsidy for your capital asset, the answer is lower your prices and by extension player salaries.

It is disgusting that this owner made his enormous wealth from exploiting an Alberta resource, then moved to another country to avoid paying tax on his enormous wealth, and then asked the public to pay for his major capital asset on his luxury toy.

It’s so broken it’s tough to even imagine how we got here.

A baseball player just signed a $700mm contract yesterday. Does this make sense to anyone?

I went and watched Ohtani live this year and paid $15 for my ticket. At least MLB is still accessible to most walks of life. NHL is has priced out the lower class and is quickly becoming undesirable for the middle class as well.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I went and watched Ohtani live this year and paid $15 for my ticket. At least MLB is still accessible to most walks of life. NHL is has priced out the lower class and is quickly becoming undesirable for the middle class as well.

I feel like baseball is the only dollar friendly option right now. And if they didn't play 81 home games I'm sure they would be just as expensive as the NFL, NHL and NBA.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

There is so much value to be had by sports washing, both domestically and abroad. These players and franchises are helping to keep middle eastern dictatorships in power, thereby increasing the riches of the royal families by billions of dollars each year.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-sportswashing

They spend a ton of money - asking people to turn it down as some kind of ethical decision is the part I'm saying is a tough ask.