The Calgary Flames' Stanley Cup run in 2004 brought about the rise of the Red Mile.
WATCH: It's been 20 years since the Calgary Flames made it to the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. While the team didn't win the cup, their Cinderella story ignited fans in a way the city has not seen since then. Dallas Flexhaug looks at the legacy left behind that is still being felt two decades later.When the team knocked the Vancouver Canucks out in Round 1, a spontaneous party erupted in the streets of Calgary.
The sea of red jerseys that could be seen on the street is how the Red Mile got its name. Those celebrations continued after subsequent games and grew to tens of thousands of people as the Flames battled against Detroit, San Jose, and finally Tampa Bay, against whom the Flames lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.The Red Mile is one of those “where were you when” moments. If you were in Calgary during that cup run, you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing.
Melrose Cafe and bar, which is no longer on 17th Avenue Southwest, was considered the “Heart of the Red Mile” in 2004. Owner Wayne Leong recalled that the energy was electric.“We brought TVs and put them outside on the patio … on the street, and it just organically grew one series after another. It was so exciting.”Shane Bycuik said he only went to the Red Mile twice. But he did have Flames season tickets and got to go to a number of the games at the Saddledome.
“I was ready to pop the cork when we did win the Stanley Cup that night, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” Bycuik said.“I’m going to crack them when we win the cup eventually. Hopefully it’ll be in my lifetime. If not, I have two sons that can carry on that tradition.”Shane Bycuik with the two champagne bottles he’s had since 2004, waiting for the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup before he opens them.
The two performed on the Red Mile, on TV, at Olympic Plaza during the party for the Flames after the season was over. They also even performed at the late Ken King’s house, who was the president of the Calgary Flames at the time.Family angry over Canadian aid worker’s death in Gaza, says he was ‘hunted down and killed’The fandom from 2004 extended all across the country. The CCM factory was making tens of thousands of jerseys a day and shipping them all across Canada.
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