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Global News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
2025 Calgary Stampede narrowly misses attendance record
The Calgary Stampede came to an end on Sunday, following 10 days of rodeo, rides and for the most part, decent weather. The Stampede was about 130,000 people shy of breaking the existing record heading into the final Sunday, and while it was close, the stampede just fell short of breaking last year's record. 121,704 people passed through the gates on Sunday, bringing the total attendance to 1,470,288 — about 7,000 fewer than in 2024. 7:46 The Calgary Stampede's cultural significance When asked once again about capping daily attendance, Stampede CEO Joel Crowley said at this point, that's still not needed since even on days where families can take advantage of free admission, they typically leave in the afternoon — replaced by those taking in the evening's entertainment. Story continues below advertisement He said there are plans for expansion, but those will have to wait until after the Saddledome arena is demolished. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Now the focus shifts to planning for next year's stampede while the midway is packed up, with much of it headed north to Edmonton's K-Days that kicks off on Friday.
Calgary Herald
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Braid: Calgary Stampede tops other Canadian summer events by a country mile
Crowds are flocking to the Calgary Stampede. What's new? It's business as usual, a familiar summer week around here. Article content Many veteran Calgarians, I suspect, are so familiar with the annual festival that they don't realize just how big it has become. Article content Article content Stampede is the most successful summer bash in Canada by a huge margin. Article content For popularity in a relatively small market, there may be nothing anywhere to top the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Article content Article content The Stampede attracted 1.48 million from a metro population of 1.6 million, for a shorter 10-day event. Attendance looks to be even higher this year. Article content Article content Two more comparisons: Article content Edmonton's K-Days, which started oddly as Klondike Days, drew a respectable 742,000 last year. (Edmonton has other excellent summer festivals as well.) Article content K-Days easily outpoints Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition, which had a 2024 attendance of 638,000 (from a local population twice the size of either Calgary or Edmonton.) Article content Article content Toronto and Vancouver nonetheless call their shows 'national.' Maybe we should rename ours the Calgary National Stampede. Article content Article content Even for Calgarians who never go to the midway and the rodeo, Stampede is a larger symbol of the city's identity, style and resilience. Article content In June 2013, floodwater swamped the city's downtown. Article content The damage was devastating to neighbourhoods and businesses. The Stampede grounds and facilities appeared to be out of commission for many months. Article content Water three metres deep covered the rodeo infield. The Saddledome was submerged up to the eighth row of seats. Food facilities were wrecked and power supply to the grounds was threatened.
