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

[getbak]

Not surprising considering the Heat's attendance with one of the top teams in the league have been absolutely horrible.

Having 3 teams plus the Roughnecks sharing the Saddledome would be tough. I wonder if they might put them at Winsport or Seven Chiefs? Seven Chiefs can hold about 2,000 people and Winsport about 4,000.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by agulati

I can definitely see myself going to a few games if they move to the city. Could they be in Lethbridge or Red Deer? It does say Calgary area, and not specifically Calgary.

With WHL teams in those two cities I can't see it happening. They're still smallish cities. Lethbridge definitely can't host a WHL team as well as an AHL team. I think the WHL team struggles anyway, an AHL team wouldn't last long in Lethbridge.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I hope they rename the team either the Scorch, or the Scorchmen.

[getbak]

Do any of the surrounding communities have arenas with a capacity over 5,000? Strathmore, Okotoks, High River, Airdrie, Cochrane?

[Jaybo]

When I first logged in, the title of this post was abbreviated as "Report: Flames to relocate" and I had a minor heart attack.

[shadowlord]

For comparison, the Vancouver Canucks moved their farm team to Abbotsford (also called the Canucks). This was the first season, and the average attendance was 4,292, placing it 17th out of 31 AHL teams.

Major caveat was that COVID attendance restrictions were in place for a significant portion of the year.

When the Flames farm team was in Abbotsford as the Heat from 2009 to 2014, average attendance started at 3897 and declined to 3007.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

If they do move one thing I hope they change is the name. Heat is a terrible name.

Sparks?
Matches?
Pilot lights?
Gasoline?

[Enoch Root]

It would be hilarious to change their name to the Oilers

[TheScorpion]

The Heat have had really poor attendance this year. Not surprised by this. Too bad.

One rumour I've heard before was Salt Lake City. Very interesting to hear Canada now.

[LIP MAN]

Okotoks Heat
Airdrie Heat

My personal fave would be Balzac Heat

[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.

[Reggie Dunlop]

The Calgary At-Rebla Knights.

[butterfly]

SLC makes so much sense. They have the building, the city size, and no junior competition. Same time zone and the altitude will have prospects conditioned to playing in Calgary.

[kipperiggy]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Vancouver and Abbotsford as well.

I remember thinking Saskatoon would be a good place for a Flames affiliate. It's close enough and would be a good place to spread the Flames market. I doubt a lot of people in Stockton or anywhere else the affiliate has been lately, became Calgary Flames supporters just because our prospects played there.

The idea was usually shot down because people said that the AHL wouldn't move to a WHL city, but I guess that isn't the case if this rumour is true.

I would be first in line for seasons if that ever happened! I could see the AHL doing much better than the WHL.

That being said I don't see it sadly.

[dustygoon]

I love the Flames and am into prospect watching. But even though I don't live too far from Stockton, you couldn't pay me money to go to that town to watch them play. I hate saying it but stockton's a ####hole.

[Harry Lime]

Saskatoon does have a new building...

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Vancouver and Abbotsford as well.

I remember thinking Saskatoon would be a good place for a Flames affiliate. It's close enough and would be a good place to spread the Flames market. I doubt a lot of people in Stockton or anywhere else the affiliate has been lately, became Calgary Flames supporters just because our prospects played there.

The idea was usually shot down because people said that the AHL wouldn't move to a WHL city, but I guess that isn't the case if this rumour is true.

Saskatoon would make some sense, but any of these further flung locations will have higher travel costs. It's also true of moving to Calgary, but at least they'll have some operating efficiencies/cost savings from being here (and presumably higher revenue than most other spots).

There'll be 6 So-Cal/desert teams that could make their own division.

Then you could have a division of AHL+NHL city teams:

San Jose Barracudas
Abbotsford
Colorado Eagles (Loveland = Denver's Airdrie)
Manitoba Moose
Calgary Scorchmen

Maybe add the Texas Stars (Austin), too, since they are also totally isolated...

For the minor-leagues themselves (without affiliate conisderations) it would make geographical sense to move the Texas Stars and Charlotte Checkers to the ECHL (lots of nearby teams for both), and to move Idaho+Utah to the AHL. But that would make 12 AHL teams west of COL with only 10 NHL teams to match.

It's kinda weird that CAR is now affiliated with Chicago Wolves and FLA is with Charlotte Checkers. NAS-Milwaukee is another

[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.

[TheScorpion]

The Canucks barely draw 200 people as it is.

[soulchoice]

I think it would be great to have another pro hockey team in the Calgary area. Although having two pro hockey teams has never been attempted in the city, I think it would be supported well enough to be sustainable.