Calgary Stampede 2023 attendance shy of breaking record

After 10 days of one of the busiest Calgary Stampedes on record, the dust is settling around the city, and it’s clear it wasn’t just country and rodeos that had people riding into town.

With 1,384,632 attendees, it was the second biggest event in the history books — just trailing behind record-breaking totals from 2012 with 1.4 million.

The 2012 record smashed the previous record set in 2006 by nearly 147,000. The 2023 year was shy by around 24,000.

While cowboy boots, hats, and even flannels were on full display, this year’s Stampede solidified the event as more than just a country-rodeo festival.

“If you try and stick to the old-style Stampede where this is a rodeo meets an agricultural get-together, then you’re not going to be turning it into the money spinner that it’s become,” said Concordia University economics professor Moshe Lander.

“You’re not going to attract a very young demographic with chuck wagon races and bronco riding.”

Stampede 2023 included performances from more than a dozen non-country music acts like Pitbull, Cypress Hill and even Shaquille O’Neil.

While country musicians like Dallas Smith and Jade Eagleson still drew big crowds, Lander says the classic appeal of a country rodeo doesn’t have the pull it used to.

Horse euthanized leaves negative impression of Stampede

More than 50,000 people made their way to the Stampede grounds every day this year for the rodeo, but the death of yet another chuckwagon horse on Friday sparked questions about the reputation of the world-famous rodeo.

“The Stampede competitors and organizers know full well that every year, horses will almost certainly die from horrific injuries in the ‘half mile of hell’ chuckwagon races,” said lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice.

“Animal Justice is calling on the Calgary Humane Society, Calgary Police, and Alberta SPCA to finally hold this event accountable by bringing charges before the courts. Rodeos aren’t exempt from animal cruelty laws and should no longer be given a free pass to kill horses for cheap thrills.”

“Even with new rules aimed at improving safety, horses are still dying. There’s simply no safe way to hold this deadly race, and it should be permanently cancelled.”

According to tracking done by the Vancouver Humane Society, over 100 animals have been killed in Stampede rodeo events since 1986.

Read More: Calgary Stampede says chuckwagon horse euthanized after suffering injury

In addition, dozens of people attended each anti-rodeo protest held by local animal rights group, The Daisy Foundation, who were pushing for one main idea — keep the Stampede, keep the party but “buck the rodeo.”

The foundation’s founder, Heather Anderson, says more people seem to be on board with the message.

“I’m really kind of impressed this year. Most years, we have been badgered so badly,” she told CityNews. “Most people are saying we’re only here for the party — frig the rodeo.”

Meanwhile, Lander says the incident is more likely to be a concern for the crowds outside the country shows and rodeo.

“Every time there’s a horse that dies on the track, that’s going to push it further and further away,” Lander said.

“That doesn’t resonate with the people who are coming for the rock concert, the rap event.”

But that feeling wasn’t mutual for everyone at the grounds.

“I can even tell the quality of the riders, the sportsmanship, the animals. It’s really good.” one spectator told CityNews on her excitement for the event.

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On average, roughly 125,000 people visited the grounds every day this Stampede.

As the festival looks to the future, 2024 will open with help from the brand new BMO Centre as the new home for Stampede events.

“Even though it might be evolving towards a slightly different version of Stampede than what people remember from the 20th century, the fact is, if it can draw crowds, a lot of people coming from out of town, a lot of people spending their local dollars here,” Lander explained.

“It’s a win-win.”

A more than century-old tradition, always looking to strike a new chord.