Parade floats, like this one for WestJet, wait in an East Village lot on July 3, 2025, just before the Calgary Stampede begins. Tourism leaders call the event a key part of their future plans. Postmedia
Tourism Calgary has a bold plan. The goal? Bring in $6 billion in yearly visitor revenue by 2035. That’s more than double the $2.9 billion the city made last year.
Stampede Drives Big Economic Growth
The Calgary Stampede is at the center of that plan. With global attention on Alberta during the recent G7 summit in Kananaskis, the city hopes to ride that wave of interest into long-term tourism gains.
Record Numbers This Summer
Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds said May was a record month. Hotel occupancy citywide hit 73.2%, the highest in 13 years. Stampede bookings are strong and already matching or beating last year’s numbers.
Canvas Auction Hits Big
Deborah Yedlin from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce says the Stampede’s annual chuckwagon canvas auction always gives clues about Calgary’s economy.
This year, the auction hit $3.84 million, just behind 2012’s record. Companies pay to place ads on wagons during the Rangeland Derby. The high bids show growing confidence in the local economy.
More Seats Coming Soon
Stampede CEO Joel Cowley shared exciting news. Rodeo and evening show tickets are selling even faster than last year. Premium seating is in high demand, with long waitlists already forming.
To meet that demand, the Stampede will tear down an old section of the north end of GMC Stadium once this year’s event ends. They plan to build seven new suites and a party deck by 2026.
Cowley said no general seating will be removed. The new structure will also house judges, EMTs, and broadcast crews.
Stampede’s Year-Round Impact
Mayor Jyoti Gondek praised the long-term value of the Stampede. She said it brings much more than entertainment.
Thanks to the success of the event, major upgrades like the BMO Centre expansion have happened. These boost tourism beyond the 10-day festival.
In June alone, Calgary hosted 25 major meetings and conventions. Over 15,000 Rotarians also gathered in the city, proving Calgary can draw global crowds even when the Stampede isn’t on.
Big Plans for Future Growth
New development continues near the Stampede grounds. On Wednesday, the city revealed plans for a $1.2 billion hotel project. It will sit just steps from the heart of the action.
Mayor Gondek said, “It’s so much more than a celebration. It’s an economic engine.”
With strong tourism numbers, exciting developments, and continued global attention, Calgary is on track to meet its big tourism goals.
