Centennial Stampede reaches new records
Turnout at all-time high for 100th anniversary
Holly Triebwasser
Staff Writer
Attendance for the Calgary Stampede soared this year – along with the temperatures – as the number of visitors reached record-breaking highs.
According to official statistics from the Calgary Stampede, the overall number of people entering the gates this year was over 1.4 million, breaking the previous record set in 2006 by 146, 853 people.
The Centennial Stampede was a huge success, drawing in more visitors than ever before. Photo: Holly Triebwasser
This should come as no surprise. Throughout the city there was lots of evidence for centennial participation as people swarmed Stampede breakfasts – with a crowd of up to 70,000 people at Chinook Centre on Saturday, July 7 – and tickets for the evening show at the grandstand sold out for all ten days prior to kick off.
Even Stephen Harper couldn’t contain his enthusiasm, declaring Calgary the “greatest city in Canada.”
In a recent pre-Stampede poll from TD Bank, 49 per cent of Stampede-goers said they expected to spend at least $500 this year, a nine per cent rise from 2011.
Attendance was certainly not lacking, with Calgarians and people from across the globe coming to experience the centennial celebrations despite the high prices of food, rides, games and entertainment at the grounds.
Many previous records were broken for the number of people entering the gates throughout the week, although Sunday only saw 110, 168, falling short of last year’s record by 7, 798 people.
Although rain put a bit of a damper on the closing day, the rest of the week was a huge success, leaving Stampede officials with the daunting task of deciding how they’re going to make 2013 even more exciting than this year.
