Tourism Calgary has its eyes on the prize of growing the city to $6 billion in annual visitor revenue by 2035, more than double last year’s $2.9 billion. Read More
Meanwhile, structure at north end of GMC Stadium will be torn down to make way for more high-demand premium seats, Stampede says
Meanwhile, structure at north end of GMC Stadium will be torn down to make way for more high-demand premium seats, Stampede says
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Tourism Calgary has its eyes on the prize of growing the city to $6 billion in annual visitor revenue by 2035, more than double last year’s $2.9 billion.
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Massive economic impact from the Calgary Stampede has become the cornerstone of that target. With more international eyes on Calgary than it has seen in decades during the recent G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis, the city hopes to stick the Stampede landing and translate the worldwide attention into long-term economic growth.
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Calgary has already been a hot spot for travel so far this summer. According to Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds, the city is coming off a “record-setting hotel revenue month in May, where occupancy citywide hit a 13-year record at 73.2 per cent.”
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The momentum appears to be continuing.
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“Stampede visitations and hotel stays specifically are looking very strong, and are pacing where they were last year in the record-setting year, and in some cases ahead,” Reynolds said.
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Deborah Yedlin, CEO and president of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, says the yearly Stampede canvas auction has always been an indicator of Calgary’s economic outlook. The event allows corporate sponsors to bid on the chance to advertise on chuckwagon tarps over the course of the Rangeland Derby. This year, it broke records for the highest average bid and combined to the second highest all-time pot at $3.84 million, just below the Stampede’s centennial anniversary in 2012.
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More premium seating planned at grandstand
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Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley says tickets for the rodeo and evening show are outpacing last year’s record, with premium grandstand seating already on an extensive waiting list. They’re tearing down a structure on the north end of the GMC Stadium to build more, as soon as this year’s Stampede ends.
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“We’ll add seven new suites and a party deck on top to help meet that demand,” Cowley said. “That’s going to be ready for 2026.”
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The building currently houses broadcast production, judges and EMTs in the space, although Cowley says the new construction will house all three in addition to the new suites. He says no regular seating is being sacrificed for the sake of premium spaces, and that the only thing being relocated is a room the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon and relay committee uses to host during the rodeo and evening shows.