New spaces and experiences make Stampede 2024 a record setting success

After nine days of celebration, the Calgary Stampede is proud to have welcomed 1,331,280 guests to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

Stampede 2024 kicked off with the Stampede Parade presented by Suncor on Friday, July 5 where upwards of 350,000 spectators lined the streets of downtown Calgary to watch the iconic Parade. Tim Horton's Family Day on Sunday, July 7 saw a record-setting 201,260 guests enjoy community spirit and free pancakes. TC Energy Community Day, saw another record-breaking day with 141,053 guests stepping onto Stampede Park to experience everything Stampede 2024 has to offer.

“Calgary has come out in full force and truly embraced the community spirit and Western hospitality behind our annual celebration, both on and off Stampede Park, and we are so grateful for that,” said Will Osler, President & Chair of the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors. “There is a sense of pride for the Stampede within Calgary, and we echo that sentiment – we are proud to call this incredible city home and be a part of what makes up the vibrant fabric of Calgary.”

After decades of planning and four years of construction, the expanded BMO Centre was open for Stampede 2024, adding 565,000 square feet of space. From Cirque de la Nuit's Starslingers show on the Stage of Wonders, to the Stampede Cellar Champions Wine Experience featuring dueling pianos and a cabaret show, to the expanded Market and Fleur de Villes and more, there was something for everyone inside the expanded BMO Centre. The exceptional programming and extra space allowed the Stampede to reach outstanding attendance, but also give guests added experiences.

“High attendance is fantastic, but what really matters is the experience that our guests are having,” said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede. “The turnout we are seeing is a true testament to the hospitality and the quality of programming that we are offering this year. There's no doubt that our fan-favourite experiences such as Indigenous culture, concerts, rodeo, chuckwagon racing, agriculture, art, and fireworks continue to be a huge draw for our guests, but there's also a sense of intrigue being generated by our new programming as well as our new spaces – the Sam Centre and the BMO Centre.”

The Calgary Stampede’s mid-week Guest Experience Survey saw overall guest experience return to pre-pandemic levels with 69% of respondents rating their experience as excellent, in line with Stampede 2023 and higher than Stampede 2022. 26% of guests indicated that this was their first Stampede, and more than 40% of guests shared that they visited Stampede more than once.

The Cowboys Rangeland Derby, Rodeo and Grandstand Show were once again the most highly rated, marquee attractions. Final numbers from the first nine days and the forecast for July 14 performances, the Rodeo and Evening Show each saw an average of 93% capacity.

A 2019 Conference Board of Canada study estimates that across the ten-day Stampede celebration, more than $282 million in economic activity is generated for Alberta, and $227 million of economic impact for Calgary. This year, Tourism Calgary is also reporting a record number of referrals to tourism businesses around the city.

As a not-for-profit, a successful Stampede and year-round events empower the Calgary Stampede to significantly invest in youth, support agricultural programs and celebrate western culture. The revenue generated during the Stampede sustains these initiatives, contributes to the vibrancy of the city and creates lasting economic benefits for Calgary.

Total attendance for the 2024 Calgary Stampede will be shared with media on Monday morning as part of the Daily Yahoo News. The Calgary Stampede’s current attendance record was set during the centennial celebration in 2012 when 1,409,371 guests were welcomed to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

About the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.

For more information, please contact:
Shannon Greer
Manager, Communications & Media Relations
Calgary Stampede
T 403.585.0467
E sgreer@calgarystampede.com