In the coming decade, the Stampede Park that Calgarians have known and loved for generations is about to change with new development projects and strategic planning on the horizon.

The Stampede is set to undertake a strategic retreat at the start of April to examine the current needs of the park and infrastructure.

Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley said that planning will transform the park into one that better serves the agricultural side of the Stampede, but also one that serves as a year-round destination for visitors.

“When you think of Stampede Park and the surrounding area, people go there for events. It’s entirely event-driven. It’s either a sporting event, it’s the Stampede, it’s a trade show, it’s a consumer show, it’s a concert. We have such an incredible opportunity with the land, and in particular, the open land that’s in the area to develop it into an everyday destination,” Cowley said.

“With that beautiful Elbow River flowing there to the east, thinking about the Saddledome coming down and opening up, and eventually, maybe the bus barn coming down and a river walk on that side along with all the development that will surround Scotia Place, this will be a place where people want to come every single day, and that’s really exciting.”

He said that the planning would focus primarily on Stampede Park and it’s connection to the Culture and Entertainment District.

“We have to anticipate future needs and expectations as well as we plan, but we’re also mindful that Stampede Park really needs to join the Culture and Entertainment District and be complementary to it,” Cowley said.

They will look at the buildings at the park, like the Saddledome, set to be demolished after the completion of the Scotia Place Calgary Event Centre, and heritage buildings like the heritage agricultural building.

Cowley highlighted that building in particular as one to be examined by the Stampede, during Calgary Municipal Land Corporation’s 15th speaker series event held on March 20.

“It was built in the 1920s. We have a beautiful building next to it called the Nutrien Western Events Center that meets current needs and expectations with regard to livestock and horse show expos. But I’ll be blunt with you, no one wants to stall in the 1920s building. It’s not big enough, and it’s expensive to maintain,” he said.

“We need to look at it as an organization… that was founded on agriculture and promoting agriculture and that industry. We need to really look at that building in particular.”

There wasn’t yet a decision to be made on its future, and that he was personally a proponent of saving heritage buildings, but there was also a need to do something different.

“The Saddledome is a good example of that. It’s a spectacular building, architecturally stunning. I loved it the first time I saw it in 1993 but it doesn’t really meet needs, basic needs. Yes, you can still play hockey in there. Concerts, no, It doesn’t meet that need, and it certainly doesn’t meet the expectation of fans in 2025,” Cowley said.

“So, that’s why he’s giving way to Scotia Place. As we look at pretty much every building on Stampede Park, we have to answer that question: Does it still fulfill a need or an expectation.”

Success of BMO Centre driving future expansion of hotels

More concrete are sites identified on Stampede Park to host hotels located surrounding the BMO Centre and Cowboys Casino.

“Most land we operate on is city land, but we do own roughly two acres that we fill, about point-eight acres next to the Cowboys Casino and then the parking lot at the corner of 12th [Avenue] and Macleod. The fact that we own it means that we have greater control over the deal that is struck,” said Cowley.

Kate Thompson, CEO of CMLC, said that those sites are now part of the master plan for the Culture and Entertainment District.

“This is what’s coming. It’s something entirely different to walk people through it and see the magnitude of it and see what the potential of it is. So we’ve really been capitalizing on that since June and last year and working through some good conversations,” she said.

CMLC and the Calgary Stampede previously announced in 2022 plans for a $80 million luxury hotel that was set to begin construction in 2024, but which fell through due to financing.

Thompson said that there wasn’t a firm date when future announcements would be made on hotels, but those conversations toward finding a developer have been fruitful.

Cowley said with the hotel vision for Stampede Park there was an opportunity to add Plus 15 access to the BMO Centre and the Cowboys Casino.

“In the fall, we had all these conventions that came in when [the BMO Centre] really got ramped up. September was the busiest September ever for Calgary hotels because of this building. That really speaks to the promise to fill the building, not only, but to put heads and beds and generate that economic impact,” he said.

“It was wonderful to see these lanyards walking to downtown. They’re not as thrilled about walking there in January, and so that proximity is really important all three of those sites.”

Cowley said that in terms of development, Calgarians should be looking long term instead of the short term.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, nothing worthwhile does. But that’s certainly something that we have to consider. My goal as the CEO is that I hand the park off to my successor in a better position, with a vision for what it can look like far into the future,” he said.