With the 2025 Calgary Stampede having come to an end, big changes are being planned for Stampede Park, and that began with the demolition of the north infield building immediately after the close.

That building, which has been used for the production and broadcasting of the rodeo and chuckwagon races, is set to be turned into a premium venue of suites.

The decision to build seven luxury suites and a rooftop party deck has come with increased demand for the space, said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede.

“For any sporting event, rodeo and chuckwagons and relay are a tremendous sporting event, premium space is very much in demand,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s football or F1, premium space is in demand, and we have corporate partners that really want to provide that space, either to their employees or to their clients, and we don’t have enough premium space.”

He said that the addition of the seven new suites would help to satisfy some of that demand, as the Stampede currently has a waiting list with more than 100 interested parties for the infield suites.

“We’re very excited about that, to add that offering. We sell out of premium spaces usually in April every year,” said Cowley.

The new suites would have the potential to attract other sporting events to GMC Stadium outside of the 10 days of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

“From our standpoint, we’re selfishly really looking at Stampede because we know the demand is there, but it will certainly elevate the offering and hopefully attract even more business there year-round,” Cowley said.

Strategic planning underway for Stampede Park

Cowley said work would also begin on relocating items and buildings from Weadickville, located on the west side of Stampede Park, next to the Big Four Building.

“We have to provide a clean work site, as Truman comes in to build this incredible Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel on our site. We want that to be done as quickly as possible, to really serve our convention business. And so if we can move quickly on that, it should be open by 2028,” Cowley said.

The Stampede has also hired global architectural firm Populous for a two-year term to study the park and surrounding connectors of 17 Avenue and the Culture and Entertainment district.

That firm also acted as the design architect for the BMO Centre expansion project.

Cowley said that the redevelopment of the park was the focus of an April retreat for the Calgary Stampede board, and was kicked off by a presentation that demonstrated how many buildings have been built and demolished at the park from 1889 on.

“This park is ever evolving, and it will continue to evolve, and we have the charge at this moment to make sure that this park meets our current and future needs. The challenge is there, and that puts pressure on you when you start making these decisions, that you’re going to do something that you might regret later,” Cowley said.

“But I think with the help of Populous and with a very talented board and very talented staff, we will come up with a great plan for Stampede Park.”

A focal point for that will be the 1919 agricultural building that no longer meets the needs of the Stampede, and then what becomes of the Saddledome land when the Calgary Event Centre is completed.

“But even looking for looking farther into the future, the Big Four Building, can we do something better with that space? Because it’s our obligation as the current caretakers of Sampede Park to put it to its highest and best use, and set those who come after us up for success,” said Cowley.

He said more details would be released in the next 18 months as the plan forms.