Calgary Stampede accused of selling AI-generated official merchandise
Kolijn underscored that in many ways, the Stampede does support local artists. She herself has had items for sale in the BMO Centre's art show, and thinks there are more than enough quality artists and graphic designers involved and around the city to support the event's needs. Ultimately, she thinks the issue comes down to costs.
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'Everything translates into a price tag. For that part the population, you know, there's tons of tourists and they just want to have maybe a $5 bottle with a cute little cowboy on it, than the $10 one that looks way nicer, has a better quality, has had local artists and fabricators involved,' Kolijn said.
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The Calgary Stampede advertises the event as one that generates huge economic impact for the city. A 2019 study, r eferenced on the Calgary Stampede's official website, claimed that the event generated $227 million for the City of Calgary.
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Calgary Stampede president Joel Cowley said in a July 3 press conference that a new study will be conducted to update those numbers later this year. He said that new analysis should be coming this fall, and that the delay between the two studies was to allow for a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said those numbers will include the impact of the newly renovated BMO Centre.
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