320-key hotel coming to Calgary’s Stampede Park late 2028

The new and improved BMO Centre on Stampede Park in Calgary has prompted the need for more hotel space, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and Calgary Stampede said Monday.

CMLC and the Stampede announced a partnership Monday with Truman to develop a 320-key hotel on the site.

President and CEO of CMLC, Kate Thompson, says the builder brings more than 40 years of development experience to the project.

“Hotel development has been a key priority for CMLC and the Calgary Stampede, and we’ve seen development interest in The [Rivers} District surge with the completion of the BMO Centre expansion, the groundbreaking of Scotia Place, and the opening of the new 17 Ave SE extension, which unlocked the potential of this site and created a unique hotel opportunity at the west entrance to Stampede Park and The [Culture + Entertainment District],” she said.

Area hotel development has been in the works for five years, the organizations say, and has had to contend with challenging market conditions and financing requirements.

The full-service hotel, located on an 85,000 square foot parcel, will be 13 storeys with 320 rooms, 15,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space, and 14,000 square feet of food and beverage offerings, including restaurants, a lobby bar, a coffee shop, a roof-top lounge. There will also be a leisure terrace with an activity pool, hot tub, and an outdoor bar, as well as an indoor swimming pool and a gym.

The hotel design is inspired by the unique curvature of the newly-named Flores LaDue Parade and the expanded BMO Centre, according to those involved. It will have a sweeping curved form that draws inspiration from the movement of a bucking horse and is representative of the identity of the Stampede and Alberta’s landscape.

“This is an exceptional location for a hotel, allowing guests to just stay steps away from the action of The Culture + Entertainment District – whether it’s a convention, meeting or event held in the BMO Centre, a hockey game in Scotia Place, a concert in The Big Four Roadhouse, or the Calgary Stampede’s annual celebration of Western heritage and community spirit each July,” said Truman chief operating officer, Tony Trutina.

Since the expanded BMO Centre opened in June 2024, it has hosted 409 events. There are 205 major events booked between now and 2032, according to CMLC and the Stampede. The venue is expected to contribute more than $250 million to Canada’s GDP annually, with the majority supporting Alberta’s GDP.

Next on the docket for the project is to start regulatory approvals. A development permit is expected to be submitted to the city later this month.

The site will then be prepared for construction, which is set to start in late 2025.

Construction on the building is expected to be finished in late 2028.