The Calgary Flames incredible playoff drive was a magical ride for fans, but also had its financial rewards.
Bars along the so-called Red Mile, where tens of thousands congregated to dance and cheer in Flames regalia over the last two months, reported sales higher than during the annual Calgary Stampede party blowout.
Yet the biggest benefit may be the spirit that permeated the city this spring as the Flames, who scraped into the NHL post-season, beat three division champions in the playoffs only to lose by one goal in the seventh game of the finals last week to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“What got me emotionally (was) . . . to see how many people supported that team, win or lose, and how friendly and hospitable people have been,” said Denton Craig of Melrose Cafe and Bar, the unofficial ground zero for the playoff party.
“International reporters were just blown away by it.”
Midweek tilts drew crowds normally found on weekends, while people began lining up as early as 8 a.m. for a spot to watch Saturday games.
“As far as number of people, sales . . . it’s like nothing else I’ve ever seen,” said Craig.
Despite the loss to the Lightning, there was little bitterness or anger over the Flames failure to bring home hockey’s Holy Grail.
“What more could Calgary ask for: We’ve got $55 a barrel (oil) and a seventh game in the Stanley Cup,’’ said oilman Brian Frank.
The positive spirit was music to Flames president Ken King.
“From all accounts, one would have concluded we’d won the game,’’ King said.
Never ones to do anything easily, the Flames played 26 of a maximum 28 playoff games, including the maximum 12 at home with sellout crowds. And while the amazing run won’t eliminate the $35-million debt amassed since 1997, it made a major dent in it.
“But that’s not what you build next year with,’’ said King. “You build next year with the 2,700 new season tickets sold, the increasingly higher renewal rates and the love affair that . . . for some began 20 years ago and for others was going (Monday) night.’’ Sales of the red flaming C jerseys, which appeared to be almost mandatory uniforms in Calgary throughout the playoffs, kept the CCM factory in Quebec working overtime and shattered previous sales records.
“There have been 70,000 (jerseys) shipped and we’ve sold over 35,000,’’ said King. “It’s easily going to be far and away the biggest-selling single jersey launch in the history of the NHL.’’ When the Flames opened the Saddledome to allow Calgarians to watch the Stanley Cup final games on big-screen TV, more than 12,600 kilograms of food were dropped off at the door – enough for 28,000 meals.
The food bank is also getting a cash donation of about $100,000 from ticket admissions.
“All of a sudden this blossomed,’’ said James McAra of the Calgary Inter-faith Foodbank.
