The Calgary Flames are a professional ice
hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members
of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National
Hockey League (NHL). The club is the third major-professional
ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the
Calgary Tigers (192126) and Calgary Cowboys (197577).
The Flames arrived in the city of Calgary
in 1980 after spending their first eight seasons in Atlanta, Georgia,
as the Atlanta Flames. The Flames spent their first three seasons
playing in the Stampede Corral before moving into their current
home arena, the Olympic Saddledome (now Pengrowth Saddledome),
in 1983. The Calgary Flames have an agreement to manage the Olympic
Saddledome until July 2014. In 1986, the Flames became the first
Calgary team since the Tigers in 1924 to compete for the Stanley
Cup. In 1989, the Flames captured the Cup for the first time.
Calgary is one of two NHL franchises in
Alberta, with the other being the Edmonton Oilers. The cities'
proximity has led to a famous rivalry, known as the Battle of
Alberta. Games between the teams are often heated events.