Calgary Stampede is inching closer to a million visitors, on a day to remember on the grounds and at both the rodeo and chuckwagons.
Nearly 111,000 people braved a 30+ Celsius day to get their Calgary Stampede weekend started. That brought the 2022 attendance to 966,435. Stampede officials say things have almost return to pre-pandemic form and the economic impact is substantial.
On Friday, the Calgary Stampede broke ground on another new addition (the BMO Centre construction is ongoing), the SAM Centre. It will be a place where people can appreciate Alberta’s western heritage all year round.
The Centre will open in late 2023.
On the Cowboys Rangeland Derby track at GMC Stadium, Chanse Vigen broke the previous track record with a time of 1:11.71. That wasn’t enough to put Vigen atop the leaderboard as Layne MacGillivray leads through eight days of racing. (Full results here.)
It was also a record-breaking day at the rodeo (photos below).
Texas barrel racer Kassie Mowry broke the arena record with a time of 16.86 in the event. (Full results here.)
Rookie bareback rider Rocker Steiner, also from Texas, had an 89.5 ride, which was the second highest of this year’s Calgary Stampede.
Sunday Drag Brunch
There’s still time to catch many of the Calgary Stampede events, including the high-flying bikes at the Monster Energy Compound, blacksmithing demonstrations, and performances of the Calgary Stampede Showband and the Band of Outriders.
Today’s Stampede Insider said there are still tickets available to the Blake Shelton concert, too.
On Sunday, the Calgary Stampede Drag Brunch will go ahead at noon at the Nashville North tent. Tickets are still available, and they include park admission. (No minors.)
Catch Jade Eagleson at Nashville North Saturday night, and Kaskade at the Coca-Cola Stage. DJ Jazzy Jeff will be at the Virgin Plus Stage in the Big Four Roadhouse.
History was made on Day 8 in the Calgary Stampede barrel racing event as Texan Kassie Mowry broke the all time arena record with a blazing 16.860 time. Mowry has earned $14,500 so far and sits second in Pool B. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
18 year old Rocker Steiner crushed the competition in the Calgary Stampede’s Bareback event, scoring an 89.5 on Dancing Queen. Steiner has earned a leading $16,000 in Calgary’s rodeo. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
Barrel Racer Lois Ferguson (West, TX) was thrown off her horse during Day 8 action at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Ferguson was shaken and was eventually helped out of the arena under her own power. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
A Calgary Stampede bronc named Crocket ejected Sterling Crawleybut not before the Texas bronc rider scored an 86.50 and second place day money. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
The bulls beat the cowboys today bucking off 7 of 11 riders including Todd Chotowetz being bucked off Outlaw Bucker’s bull Socks. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
They call him Money Mayfield, and on Day 8 Shad Mayfield lived up to his nickname with a blazing 6.6 second time — the fastest of the week — in the Tie Down Roping event. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
Jesse Brown turned in another winning day in Steer Wrestling action with a fast 4.2. Brown secured his spot in Championship Sunday with $11,000 in earnings so far. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY 
It was a tough day for Brooks, Alberta cowboy Harley Cole as Cole missed his steer. SEAN LIBIN / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
