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

[Jiri Hrdina]

This is great news. A more affordable hockey option and the opportunity to see prospects up close. Count me in. I very well may go to more Heat games than Flames games.

[Royle9]

Excited as well, Hitmen season tickets are basically just supporting the organization as you can barely give them away.

Hoping Heat seasons tickets aren’t that big of a step up from Hitmen as it would be fun going to watch our prospects.

Anyone know what a game cost in Stockton? Not that it will likely be relative I suppose.

[djsFlames]

Getting to take in Zary, Pelletier, Coronato, Wolf in up close in the season/s to come is an exciting prospect.

Few things sell better than hope in the realm of sports, especially within this fanbase. The Flames faithful will line up for this imo.

[Snuffleupagus]

Hitmen will likely be on the move very soon, can't see them getting 4000+ a night now.

[TheScorpion]

From what I hear, Calgary Heat is very much in contention to be the name. Not as much for Inferno, Scorch, or even Cannons (had to ask).

I would expect an updated colour scheme. Also hear they're potentially looking at reviving the name of a defunct Calgary sports team — first that come to my mind are Cowboys, Wranglers, and Centennials.

[Zulu29]

Where will they play?

[TheScorpion]

Hasn't been announced, but they'll be at the Saddledome.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Where will they play?

The Saddledome. I can't think of any other venue where it would make sense. I suspect the AHL, priced competitively, would outdraw the Hitmen.

The Hitmen will be relegated to WINSPORT with some games played out the 7 Chiefs complex, with CSEC partnering with the Tsuut'ina in some capacity.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

From what I hear, Calgary Heat is very much in contention to be the name. Not as much for Inferno, Scorch, or even Cannons (had to ask).

I would expect an updated colour scheme. Also hear they're potentially looking at reviving the name of a defunct Calgary sports team — first that come to my mind are Cowboys, Wranglers, and Centennials.

I could get behind the Wranglers, but Cowboys is cringey politicized tourism lingo that Calgary needs to leave behind. I've always liked the two worded team names that you sometimes find in minor league sports.

The Calgary Enraged Marmots.

Even better, go outside of the Calgary name and name it after a surrounding county, especially if you play games out of the T'suu T'ina.

Rockyview Stoic Ground Squirrels.
T'suu T'ina Fiery Chickadees.

[Kovaz]

Bit of a shocking headline to be greeted by

[Reggie Dunlop]

I think CSEC snapped up the rights to Cowboys, Wranglers and Centennials when they did the "Corral Series" promotion with the Hitmen.

Wranglers was used by the Flames' ECHL affiliate in Las Vegas 2003-09.

I suppose the Calgary Golden Wranglers is out of the question?

Cowboys would be kind of cool. I went to WHA Cowboys games back in the day.

The other thing is that the AHL in Calgary will need a strong branding and marketing. As with many AHL teams the talent level can fluctuate from year to year.

[442scotty]

I’d go to a heat game at the dome! Affordable!

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I could get behind the Wranglers, but Cowboys is cringey politicized tourism lingo that Calgary needs to leave behind.

Oh, definitely we need to leave all that cringey cowboy stuff behind. Let's start by abolishing the Stampede.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The Saddledome. I can't think of any other venue where it would make sense. I suspect the AHL, priced competitively, would outdraw the Hitmen.

The Hitmen will be relegated to WINSPORT with some games played out the 7 Chiefs complex, with CSEC partnering with the Tsuut'ina in some capacity.

Several buildings house three teams, and often 2-3 of them are in the Big 4 and use different playing surfaces. And those buildings generally hold more concerts, too.

I'm sure there's a certain attendance number where it doesn't make sense to use the Saddledome, but I bet it's somewhere around 3000 or even lower.


Roughnecks ~9-12 games is like 2 dates a month.

I bet the Hitmen(and Oil Kings) get priority scheduling in the WHL...they may get the Saddledome scraps, but they'll be fine.

2019-20 Dome calendar: 5 totally open Sat/Sun blocks, and 20 other Fri/Sat/Sun dates from Oct. 1- Apr 5. So 30 prime open dates out of ~78 prime dates in hockey season.

I expect all three will stay, with Heat/Hitmen occasionally getting bumped to another venue.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Oh, definitely we need to leave all that cringey cowboy stuff behind. Let's start by abolishing the Stampede.

Well Pardner, your spurs are all a 'jangle. I reckon we should meet outside the saloon and sort this out as Calgarians do. I got rasslin' to git back to.

It just always sits oddly with me that Calgary insists on branding itself as old timey western, and then everyone wonders why the rest of the country (or world) thinks of us as relics of yesteryear. Texans, with even bigger hats.

The rest of the province outside of Calgary and Edmonton follow the cowboy lifestyle and that's cool, but Calgary insisting that they do to, is just cringey to me, because for the most part they don't. Calgary is very metropolitan and suburban. That said :

Alberta Cowboys would be cool.

[agulati]

Can’t wait to check out some of the prospects, first hand.


Still would likely be $12 beers,

[TheScorpion]

I would be stunned if they call it an "Alberta" team. Not happening.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I would be stunned if they call it an "Alberta" team. Not happening.

Do you get the sense that locating them in Calgary is a long term plan or is it just for now while they look for another market?

[TheScorpion]

I think this is going to be for the long haul.

[transplant99]

Resurrecting the Cowboys or Wranglers would be cool, but I would be surprised if they move far away from the "Flame" theme.

Maybe the Calgary Fire?

I still don't think that an AHL team works long term though. Likely just a landing spot until a more suitable and semi-permanent location comes up. Though that could take a few years as well unless there is a Canadian division or NW type division...something along those lines. Travel costs have to be the major consideration.