Calgary Stampede close to breaking attendance record as 2025 event wraps up

Yahoo

13-07-2025

As the 2025 Calgary Stampede draws to a close, officials say this year's event was met with strong enthusiasm from Calgarians and near-record attendance, despite safety concerns that emerged during the 10-day Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
'There has been an undeniable energy and excitement felt across Stampede Park and in all four corners of the city,' said Calgary Stampede president Stuart O'Connor. 'From pancake breakfasts to barbecues to mixers, receptions and everything in between, Stampede spirit in Calgary is in full swing.'
More than 1.3 million people have visited Stampede Park so far this year, O'Connor said Sunday morning, with attendance totals close to rivaling 2023's record of about 1.48 million. Whether that record will be surpassed remains to be seen, said Stampede CEO Joel Cowley.
'We very well may and we very well may not (break the record),' said Cowley. 'It's that close to last year's attendance.'
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The 10-day affair kicked off with more than 340,000 Calgarians and visitors lining the streets of Calgary on July 4 for the Stampede parade, led by Canadian music icon Shania Twain. Opening day also saw a visit from Prime Minister Mark Carney at Stampede Park.
The Stampede spirit extended well beyond Stampede Park with Calgarians and visitors heading to pancake breakfasts, festival-style tents and other Stampede events across the city.
Live music acts at Stampede Park drew large crowds, raising concerns about safety and crowd control. On Sunday, Cowley said guest feedback pertaining to safety concerns at the Coke Stage will shape planning for next year's Stampede.
'Going into 2026, one of our focal points will be continuing to evolve the Coke Stage,' Cowley said. 'We want our guests there to be comfortable and feel safe and secure.
'We had two very large high-volume nights this last week and we know that some of our guests did not feel comfortable, so we will continue to evaluate that.'
Cowley said the Calgary Stampede will 'continue to evolve' the Coke Stage presentation, potentially introducing additional crowd control measures and evaluating which artists are booked for the venues.
The Stampede CEO acknowledged putting on the 10-day event is 'not without its challenges,' pointing to an assault that occurred Tuesday on park grounds. Three people were injured and taken to hospital, including two victims with stab wounds and one with lacerations.
'It sounds like they are all recovering,' Cowley said, adding a CPS investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
'This was a targeted altercation,' he added. 'That's incredibly disheartening for an event like ours that is supposed to be a celebration, that someone would come on grounds and look to do harm to others.'
Cowley said Stampede security protocols are reviewed daily in collaboration with the Stampede's security team and Calgary police.
The 2025 Stampede saw several attendance milestones. TC Energy Community Day drew more than 193,000 guests, the second-highest single-day total in Stampede history. BMO Kids Day set another attendance record, welcoming more than 161,000 visitors.
Seventy-three per cent of visitors were from the Calgary area, on par with last year's numbers. 'We take pride in that,' Cowley said. 'This is a community celebration where Calgarians can come together and celebrate fellowship and share an experience.'
Cowley said the remaining 27 per cent of attendees coming from outside Calgary represents a major boost to the local economy, pointing to increased hotel booking and visitor spending. 'That money is coming to Calgary, and it would not otherwise come to Calgary if it weren't for the Calgary Stampede.'
He cited numbers from the Calgary Hotel Association showing occupancy increased by 2.4 per cent over 2024, with roughly 10,000 more people staying in hotels this year.
The Stampede is set to wrap up Sunday night with a celebration of Indigenous culture at the Stampede Powwow at the Saddledome.
According to early results from an internal visitor survey, the Rangeland Derby received the highest satisfaction rating of the Calgary Stampede's programming, with 80 per cent of respondents giving it a perfect score, Cowley said. Other popular attractions included the relay race, the Grandstand Show, the rodeo and the Dog Bowl.
'We're very proud of the offering that we put forth this year,' Cowley said. 'Our focus is truly on providing the greatest experience we can to everyone who steps on park.
'It is a decision to come to Stampede Park, and we want to make that decision as easy as possible.'
Officials credited the success of the event to the efforts of more than 3,000 volunteers, roughly 1,000 year-round employees and more than 4,000 seasonal employees at the Calgary Stampede.
'The Calgary Stampede is a symbol of what community can achieve when we come together,' O'Connor said. 'Calgary showed up.'