Calgary Stampede ‘well on track’ to break attendance record

The Calgary Stampede said Sunday it’s on track to break its all-time attendance record of 1.4 million set in 2012.

Around 156,400 visitors came to the park on Saturday, which is the second highest this year behind the over 200,000 visitors on July 7.

“Speaking of numbers, this morning (Sunday) we are on track — well on track, to break our all-time attendance record with 1.33 million-plus attendees on Stampede Park across our first nine days and sneak peek,” said Stampede president Will Osler in a news conference.

This includes the single-day attendance record set on July 7, when more than 200,000 people showed up at the park for Tim Horton’s Family Day on Sunday.

“It has been just one day after another of incredibly strong turnout during Stampede 2024. It’s really been amazing,” Osler said.

The total to date is 1,331,280, and just over 78,000 more visits are needed to beat the old record of 1,409,371. The 2023 attendance fell short with 1,384,632.

“Numbers are fantastic … but really the quality of experience is what matters,” said Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley.

He pointed to the Stampede’s midweek survey, which he says showed “guests were having a great experience.”

The survey, which is open until July 22, says 88 per cent of those surveyed said attending the park was an “easy decision,” 90 per cent say the Stampede is an important part of Calgary’s identity, and 90 per cent have a positive view of Western culture.

But he also says around 26 per cent of respondents were from outside of Calgary.

“Visitors coming from outside, that’s what generates that economic impact … drawing people both from within Canada, but also around the globe,” Cowley said.

Osler says the list of countries represented at Stampede Park “has been incredible.”

Lastly, Cowley said 46 per cent of those who attended the 2024 Calgary Stampede identify as a visible minority, which he says is “really meaningful to me.”

“Because we want to be a Stampede for all. We want to welcome the world. We want to provide great hospitality. And we do that both through our hospitality and the diversity of offerings that we have here on Stampede Park,” Cowley said.

Tourism Calgary has projected that the Stampede will generate $282 million of economic “activity” for Alberta and $227 million of economic impact for Calgary, along with having a “record number of referrals to tourism businesses around the city.”

Stampede adapts to water main break on potable water use

Cowley says there were a couple of obstacles to this year’s event, namely the water main break on June 5, which left Calgarians to conserve water use by 25 per cent for over three weeks while city crews scrambled to make repairs.

The city was able to get the line back in service and connected just before the 10-day event kicked off, but at a lower water flow.

However, indoor water use restrictions have been lifted and people were asked to return to their regular water use slowly, and pools can be filled up again.

“It was also very interesting to go into this year’s Calgary Stampede with a water main break,” Cowley said. “Our thanks to the City of Calgary and the workers who repaired that break in time for the Stampede.”

With fears the repairs could run through the Stampede, organizers said it would be hauling potable and non-potable water to not rely on the city’s reserves.

“We had a plan as we announced, and our plan was to offset as much Calgary-treated water as possible using non-potable water from the Elbow River,” said Cowley. “And we did use that for maintenance of our tracks in our arenas.

“We also use it for some cleaning and some sanitation purposes. But we had a further plan to conduct the Calgary Stampede in a very responsible manner if necessary.”

Cowley says four locations in Stampede Park have large potable water tanks with a total capacity of those being 125,000 litres.

“Our plan was to work with the community of Aldersyde and Rockyview County to truck water in to offset Calgary treated water,” he said.

Fourth animal euthanized at this year’s events

The Stampede hasn’t been all high numbers and record-breaking days, as it saw multiple animals euthanized due to injuries sustained.

Cowley spoke of a horse belonging to Obrey Motowylo’s team that was euthanized Saturday night after sustaining a fracture while racing on the track. He said emergency veterinarian care was “immediately” dispatched.

“After consulting with the veterinarian, the owner made the decision that it was the most humane thing to euthanize that horse,” he said.

This comes after two other horses were euthanized after sustaining injuries at the 10-day event and a steer on July 8.

Cowley says the Stampede works “very, very hard” to minimize incidents such as this one, including inspecting animals, going from four wagons to three, and having lane delineators so that wagons on the inside can escape should they be pressured.

“But clearly, we have more work to do,” he said.

“The critics of our animal activities will say this is unacceptable. Quite frankly, we agree. But unacceptable to us means we have more work to do.”

CityNews has reached out to the Calgary Humane Society for comment.

The Stampede says it will have a news conference on final attendance numbers on Monday.

More information on what to do on the final day can be found here.

With files from Silvia Naranjo