Latest news with #2025Stampede
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede close to breaking attendance record as 2025 event wraps up
Article content 'It sounds like they are all recovering,' Cowley said, adding a CPS investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Article content '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.' Article content Cowley said Stampede security protocols are reviewed daily in collaboration with the Stampede's security team and Calgary police. Article content Article content 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. Article content 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.' Article content Article content Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content The Stampede is set to wrap up Sunday night with a celebration of Indigenous culture at the Stampede Powwow at the Saddledome. Article content 'Calgary showed up' Article content 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. Article content '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. Article content 'It is a decision to come to Stampede Park, and we want to make that decision as easy as possible.'
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Cowgirl grit: More women than ever before to compete in rodeo sports at Calgary Stampede
When the Calgary Stampede Rodeo begins Friday, it will welcome twice as many female competitors as it did in previous years. Article content Ladies' breakaway roping has been introduced as a new event for the 2025 rodeo, the only new addition since barrel racing was added in 1979. Article content The addition of this event demonstrates the changing demographic of spectators and rodeo athletes, and provides new opportunities for young, female competitors. Article content Article content 'Rodeo has a tremendous appeal,' said David Poulson, a Calgary Stampede Rodeo announcer of 35 years. 'It's not a sport that only appeals to old ranchers.' Article content Article content Ladies' barrel racing introduced in 1979 Article content Women have long held a place in rodeo, with ladies' barrel racing being one of the most-loved events at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Article content 'It's really easy to follow, people love it,' he said. Article content Competing against the clock, a rider and her horse run a course that circles three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern before racing back across the line from which they started. Article content Time is measured with an electronic eye-timer, and a hundredth of a second can determine a winner. Article content Article content If a competitor and her horse knock down a barrel, a five-second penalty is added to their total time. Article content The quickest time wins the event. Article content Barrel racing crowds 'go crazy' when the cowgirls make their finals turns and head for the finish, said Poulson. Article content Article content He reflected on the loudest crowds he's ever heard the grandstand, recalling years ago on the final Sunday of the rodeo, when Canadian Lindsay Sears turned the final barrel to make the run for home. Article content 'I don't think I've ever heard the grandstand any louder.' Article content The 2025 Stampede poster highlights the fan-favourite event, featuring barrel racer Kellie Jorgensen and her horse, Salty, in an image from the 2021 Stampede. Article content The piece, titled Grit to Greatness, 'embodies the spirit and resilience that define the Calgary Stampede,' said Stuart O'Connor, first vice-chair of the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors, in a statement.
