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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.'