Abbotsford Heat: Fanning the Flames' farm team

[snowdude]

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/A...896/story.html

Long article from the Vancouver Sun the other day. Good stuff.

Still, there are many variables, the biggest one perhaps being Canuck fan loyalty: the Heat are the farm team of the hated Calgary Flames.



Peary shrugs that one off as easily as a player tossing a sweat-soaked jersey. Back in the early 1960s when he was captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who were, at that time, affiliated with the New York Rangers, team loyalties actually meant something. Not anymore.

The team has sold all 300 club seats in the 7,000-seat arena, and has about 2,000 season ticket holders, says Dave Sheldon, the Heats’ director of communications and broadcast.


The team expects to sell out its first regular season game next Friday against the San Antonio Rampage.

[tkflames]

This is a very well written article. A great read for anyone, but especially those living in the lower mainland.

[Canada 02]

just 2000 season tickets has to be a huge disapointment

Sweeting was talking about double that number when they were pushing for a franchise

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

just 2000 season tickets has to be a huge disapointment

Sweeting was talking about double that number when they were pushing for a franchise

Was he talking about 4000 from the outset? I think you have a good playoff run that builds up a bit of a buzz and gets the players familiar to the fans and you could see that number. But straight off the bat would be a bit optimistic. From all reports, sounds like things are going very well for the team in the early-going.

[edn88]

I lived in Abbotsford for a year for college, and it would have been nice to have had AHL hockey to watch. I think that community would definitely embrace the product.

If the stars align, I am going to try to get back down for a game if I can.

[QuadCityImages]

According to this article from June 5th:

Sweeting said he is expecting somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 season ticket-holders by summer's end, with "well over" one 1,000 season tickets already sold.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

just 2000 season tickets has to be a huge disapointment

Sweeting was talking about double that number when they were pushing for a franchise

QC had around 1700 sth's but the problem was not them it was getting your causal fan in. But this is canada. Sutter cant call them what did sutter call the fan base in the qc? unsophisticated? something like that.

I just hope this doesn't turn into the calgary 2 years and done deal again.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by edn88

I lived in Abbotsford for a year for college, and it would have been nice to have had AHL hockey to watch. I think that community would definitely embrace the product.

If the stars align, I am going to try to get back down for a game if I can.

I used to live in the area for a few years and one of the biggest misconceptions people outside of the Lower Mainland and Lower Fraser Valley have is that Abbotsford/Chilliwack = Vancouver. They are distinct areas and Abbotsford is definitely looking for its own direction.