Confirmed: Flames to relocate AHL affilate for 2022-23 season

[MrMike]

I imagine Scorp loves this.

[TheScorpion]

Scorp does.

[Reggie Dunlop]

So a move to the Central Division, which makes for some Eastern Time Zone games.

Or maybe the North Division? With other Canadian-based teams?

[BlindMilwaukee]

Originally Posted by Macman

I think this is good news and even overdue. It’s a good option if you can’t afford to go to Flames games all the time and still a big step up from JR. I’m looking forward to going.

Yeah that's me. I haven't been to a Flames game since like '99.
I will definitely check out the odd Heat game. Will be really cool to see Flames prospects.

[N-E-B]

I’m really excited about this. I’ve never seen AHL hockey but I’ve always wanted to go watch the Flames prospects.

I think all AHL teams should be close-ish to their parent cities.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I hope they drop "Heat" as the team name.

Heat and Hitmen too similar.



An opportunity for entirely new branding, one that say, draws on the local indigenous community.

[browna]

This may not be a long term thing either, they wanted out of Stockton and lease was done and instead of trying to shoehorn in somewhere else that wasn't an ideal situation, brought them back here to regroup.

My guess is they take their time try and figure out a good situation with a good arena, travel situation, and fan base. So 1 or 2 seasons here until that's established and determined.

Oilers brought their team to Edmonton for one season (lockout season).

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by browna

This may not be a long term thing either, they wanted out of Stockton and lease was done and instead of trying to shoehorn in somewhere else that wasn't an ideal situation, brought them back here to regroup.

My guess is they take their time try and figure out a good situation with a good arena, travel situation, and fan base. So 1 or 2 seasons here until that's established and determined.

Oilers brought their team to Edmonton for one season (lockout season).

I get the sense that this is the opposite. This could be for the long haul.

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1528813515099713536

[Jordan!]

HAHA, Stupid Stockton.

Weird move having the team in that dump to begin with.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

HAHA, Stupid Stockton.

Weird move having the team in that dump to begin with.

This feels like r/selfawarewolves territory.

[Ducay]

Question Stockton as much as you want but we didn't really give it long enough to be successful - and then pull the chute exactly when things are building up there.

Obviously other factors at play, but as a native and a local, Calgary is not the spot for this team.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Question Stockton as much as you want but we didn't really give it long enough to be successful - and then pull the chute exactly when things are building up there.

Obviously other factors at play, but as a native and a local, Calgary is not the spot for this team.

[getbak]

The team has been in Stockton for 7 seasons (although, they played in Calgary last season because of COVID restrictions). That's longer than anywhere else the Flames have had their affiliate except the 10 years in Saint John.

They're not growing a fan base in Stockton. Their highest-attendance season was their first and attendance has declined every year since. They averaged less than 2000 people per game this season. The attendance for their first 2 playoff games this year was 1822 and 1864.



In the end, this move isn't about finding an arena to play in that will fill up with 10,000 passionate fans every night. I suspect per-game attendance isn't a consideration at all. This is about having the players close to home to make recalls easier and to have easy access to all the Flames resources in Calgary.

Every year, we're seeing more teams moving their AHL affiliates closer to home. Calgary will be the 4th Canadian team to have their affiliate in the same city and Edmonton will be the only remaining Canadian team to not have its affiliate at least in the same province.

[GullFoss]

I honestly don't think the organization cares how well it draws. It's more about ensuring your prospects can develop closer to home, where there are more eyes on your mental health and professional development.

Will do wonders for ensuring prospects develop the right way and reach their potential. Can build the right culture here

[curves2000]

Will the Saddledome have the room and the facilities to share with another pro club? I know they did major renovations for lockrooms and such when the World Jr's were here 10 years ago.

It just seems like a tight situation of resources for medical facilities, practice, training, coaches and management etc.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I hope they drop "Heat" as the team name.

Heat and Hitmen too similar.



An opportunity for entirely new branding, one that say, draws on the local indigenous community.

If they end up playing at 7 Chiefs: The Tsuut'ina Kù (which, according to this, means fire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuut%...#List_of_nouns).

[btimbit]

Awesome, I'm definitely going to look at season tickets

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by AC

This feels like r/selfawarewolves territory.

If you're comparing Phoenix to Stockton, you need to leave Calgary once in a while.

Now if you're comparing Glendale AZ and Stockton you may be onto something

[djsFlames]

This excites me.

The Hitmen never really caught my interest. But having the farm club right here at home would have me following them closely and attending some games even.