The Calgary Surge and the Calgary Stampede announced a new partnership to bring basketball to the Saddledome as part of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

The Surge will play the Montreal Alliance on July 9, with reduced ticket prices including free entry to the Stampede on Kid’s Day.

Allison Wright, Director of Stampede Programming at the Calgary Stampede, said that the addition of basketball to the 2025 entertainment offerings represented an evolution of the Stampede’s programming.

“The event landing on BMO Kids Day, families, new fans and long-time Stampede goers have the opportunity to experience the energy and excitement of live basketball alongside Stampede traditions here on Stampede Park,” Wright said.

She said that the Saddledome has been a showcase for some of the champion events that the Stampede has done over the years, including that of the annual Powwow competition, and that the Surge was a natural fit for that.

“It’s just the right place to do this with the right partner,” Wright said.

Jason Ribeiro, Vice-Chairman and President of the Calgary Surge, said that the combination of sports, art, and culture that the team has embraced has been seen as something unique.

“Whenever I share that mission with others, it typically follows with comments about how unique that mission is. I’m here to tell you today that that focus is not all that unique,” he said.

“For 113 years, the Calgary Stampede has provided an incredible example of how to bring people together around rodeo, the arts, and our proud western heritage. I’m not exaggerating when I say that we’ve been standing on the Stampede’s shoulders to date.”

He said that standing shoulder to shoulder in partnership with the Stampede was a milestone for the team.

Two Dome games in one season

The first-ever Surge game at the Saddledome set a Canadian Elite Basketball League attendance record, with 12,327 people attending.

Some 156,400 people attended the Stampede’s Kid’s Day in 2024.

Ribeiro said that going into July 9, he really didn’t have an expectation of how many fans would add basketball to their Stampede entertainment mix.

“We didn’t have a record attendance the last time on our minds when we set out to Surge to the Dome. Landing at the number we did at 12,000 made us just very grateful for the support and opportunity. One of the few things that my staff will attest to, this is one of the few things I’m going without: a number written on some piece of paper of what we want to see,” he said.

“I think we do the right things the right way, heart on our sleeve, partnering with the Calgary Stampede, and getting the message out there to as many people, that we are going to be here as one of the headline acts with the Calgary Stampede.”

The addition of the second Saddledome date for the 2025 season was celebrated by Canadian Elite Basketball League Commissioner and founder, Mike Morreale.

“The Calgary Stampede is one of the most iconic celebrations in Canada, and it’s only fitting that CEBL basketball will become part of that energy and tradition,” he said.

“Bringing the Surge to the Saddledome during the Stampede is another bold step by the organization’s leadership to grow the game and deepen its roots in the Calgary community.”

Upper bowl tickets for the match-up are $35, $45 for the lower bowl, and all the tickets include access to Stampede Park. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.