Calgary Stampede breaks attendance record

This year’s Calgary Stampede was truly one for the books — more people took in the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth than ever before.

Officials say a new attendance record for the 10 days of festivities was set, with 1,477,953 people walking through the gates of Stampede Park.

“We could arguably say that this was the greatest of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” said Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley. “Our staff, our volunteers will certainly take some time to celebrate this year’s Stampede.”

This takes the place of the previous record from 2012, which saw 1,409,371 people head to the grounds.

A daily attendance record was also set this year on Sunday, July 7, which was Tim Horton’s Family Day. More than 200,000 people walked through the gates that day.

Cowley credits the extensive expansion of the BMO Centre for helping boost attendance numbers.

“Having that space back to host our guests, allow them to spread out, and rest, and relax, and recharge was absolutely critical to the success of this year’s Stampede,” he said.

A survey of visitors to the Stampede, which is open until July 22, says 88 per cent of those surveyed said attending the park was an “easy decision,” while 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.

Ahead of this year’s festivities, officials said year-round, the Stampede generates $540 million for the province and $282 million for the local economy.

-With files from Alejandro Melgar