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

[Gugstanley]

My vote is to put the team back in Salt Lake City. Direct fights to Calgary, plus I am here

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Gugstanley

My vote is to put the team back in Salt Lake City. Direct fights to Calgary, plus I am here

Easy peasy. Just swap out the ECHL team for an AHL team. The Grizzles can relocate to Stockton.

[SuperMatt18]

Personally I’d go to Heat games way more than I go to Hitmen games

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The Moose and the Barracuda play out of the same arena as their parent NHL clubs.

Moose get around 4,500, the Barracuda about 3,500 per game.

Toronto Marlies have their own arena, though a substantially larger hockey market and get 5,500 or so.

The Barracuda are moving into a new 4,200 seat rink at the Sharks practice facility next season: https://www.nhl.com/sharks/news/shar...na/c-331675130

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

The AHL is really poor hockey.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The WHL, the AJHL plus two university teams. That's a lot.

Winnipeg makes it work. I think Calgary could.

With the MJHL though it's basically family and friends who go. I remember when I lived there for a year and the OCN Blizzard would come to the city they would almost sell out but it was basically a home game for the Blizzard.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The Heat would displace the Hitmen I would think, but how much?

Hitmen are selling the junior hockey experience, as well as being an affordable alternative for families. There'd be some overlap, but to what degree?

The WHL, the AJHL plus two university teams. That's a lot.

An AJHL and two University teams are complete non-factors. University teams draw families and current students. AHL teams bounce around all the time, the Hitmen have been in Calgary since 1994, they aren't going anywhere.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

The AHL is really poor hockey.

I disagree. I think fans would be surprised by the calibre of the game. There's typically a lot of room for high-skill players and there can be a lot of scoring.

You haven't lived until you've seen Dustin Wolf in person. That guy is unbelievable.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

The AHL is really poor hockey.

What?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I disagree. I think fans would be surprised by the calibre of the game. There's typically a lot of room for high-skill players and there can be a lot of scoring.

You haven't lived until you've seen Dustin Wolf in person. That guy is unbelievable.

The AHL is arguably the 2nd best professional hockey league in the world. It produces more NHL players than any other league.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The AHL is arguably the 2nd best professional hockey league in the world. It produces more NHL players than any other league.

Because NHL teams assign players under contract there.

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

What?

Pardon me?

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I disagree. I think fans would be surprised by the calibre of the game. There's typically a lot of room for high-skill players and there can be a lot of scoring..

Some fans might be, I wouldn't. I've seen various AHL games over the last 20+ years and by and large it's not a cohesive team hockey game. Most players are playing "their" game trying to stand out. It can be sloppy ugly hockey. Junior can be the same but it's more due to young an inexperience which I don't mind.

If the Heat land in Calgary it'll be four a handful of years before they find another solution. It won't make a blip.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Yeah, it was always a matter of time with Stockton. I was surprised they went back there after the pandemic season.

The Hitmen typically draw around 7000. An AHL would likely cut into that substantially.

Maybe the Hitmen move to the Tsuut'ina Sportsplex? That's only 2000 seats though.

Winsport would make more sense.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Because NHL teams assign players under contract there.

Pardon me?

Some fans might be, I wouldn't. I've seen various AHL games over the last 20+ years and by and large it's not a cohesive team hockey game. Most players are playing "their" game trying to stand out. It can be sloppy ugly hockey. Junior can be the same but it's more due to young an inexperience which I don't mind.

If the Heat land in Calgary it'll be four a handful of years before they find another solution. It won't make a blip.

Yeah just like the Marlies.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Because NHL teams assign players under contract there.

Pardon me?

Some fans might be, I wouldn't. I've seen various AHL games over the last 20+ years and by and large it's not a cohesive team hockey game. Most players are playing "their" game trying to stand out. It can be sloppy ugly hockey. Junior can be the same but it's more due to young an inexperience which I don't mind.

If the Heat land in Calgary it'll be four a handful of years before they find another solution. It won't make a blip.

If the Flames have to bankroll the AHL team whereever it goes, they'd probably do better with it in their own arena because at least they get the consession and parking money and don't have to pay rent to a third party.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Boreal

Winsport would make more sense.

Yep.

I hadn't realized it held 4000 until today.

Hitmen are marketed as a low cost family entertainment. Lack of transit options to get to Winsport could be a concern.

[soulchoice]

Wrong thread

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Boreal

Yeah just like the Marlies.

This ain't Toronto

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

If the Flames have to bankroll the AHL team whereever it goes, they'd probably do better with it in their own arena because at least they get the consession and parking money and don't have to pay rent to a third party.

That's fine, just saying they Flames are the hockey draw here. The Heat will have a small loyal following. They're not going to displace the almost 30 year WHL team with a strong history.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

One big advantage to having your AHL affiliate in our city is you can carry a much smaller roster which saves you both actual dollars and cap space. You can assign players on paper even if the AHL team is on the road. This has to be a huge consideration and a reason it could work even if the team had poor attendance.

The Hitmen balance will be interesting because both teams will want key weekend dates so I wonder what the long term plans are. It could make a new smaller rink more viable if the two of them (and Roughnecks?) play there. This would also open up the new arena for more concert dates, whenever that might be built.

[soulchoice]

I would easily attend more Heat games as they are directly affiliated with the Flames. I haven’t been to a Hitman game in ages, and in the past, only attended a game if there happened to be a Flames prospect on the team or passing through. Then again, I don’t cheer for the Hitmen nor follow them.

[Moneyhands23]

Penticton has a great rink