One of the biggest moments of pause during the Calgary Stampede’s announcement of its new 20-year master plan was the mention of a potential new home for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

During the presentation of the ambitious park redevelopment, Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley described a potential future plan for the GMC Stadium.

He said that the area needs work, starting with a new infield grandstand building to the east, mostly to accommodate premium space seating.

“We have a wait list of about 200 for our suites during the Calgary Stampede,” Cowley said.

“We need additional premium space, no doubt, and it will enhance the experience that our guests have, whether they’re in the rodeo or they’re there for the chuckwagon races.”

Beyond that, however, Cowley said the plan contemplates the potential for field sports to be played at the facility.

“It’s no secret that McMahon (Stadium) is probably beyond its expiration date, and so this does contemplate that potential,” he said.

Of course, there are some challenges to overcome in making that happen, Cowley said. He said right now they’re just looking at upgrades to enhance the rodeo, chuckwagons and grandstand viewing.

He said a lot of work needs to be put into realizing that vision, particularly around the integration of the track and a potential turf field.

“We cannot really compromise, in particular the track, because thoroughbreds running at top speed, they need a consistent surface,” he said.

“We cannot have a field that compromises the integrity of our track, and we certainly want to be able to convert quickly between a field sport and a Western event as well

Cowley mused about a napkin drawing that envisions a layered field, like something seen in other European city stadiums.

“Engineers will have to prove to me it won’t work. And of course, it will need to be priced,” he said.

“But something like you mentioned, where a field comes over the top so that you’re preserving the track, you’re preserving the rodeo arena, that’s the approach that would need to be taken.”

Stampeders president noted McMahon challenges

Earlier this year, during an event announcing Grey Cup festivities being held in Calgary with the game on Nov. 15, Stampeders president Jay McNeil commented on the state of their current building.

To accommodate the bid specifications of the Grey Cup event, the Calgary Stampeders organization and parent company the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC), have to expand the concourses, improve the media facilities and add 14 more suites to the north end zone.

“I think we’re all very aware that there are some challenges with McMahon Stadium; this certainly highlights that,” he said.

“So, where to the next step? I think it’s brought that conversation to the forefront and gives us that opportunity to move forward.”

Currently, McMahon Stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.

CSEC president and CEO Robert Hayes said that the Calgary Stampede has laid down the vision in a sort of, if you build it, they will come fashion.

“I think we would have a keen interest in that,” Hayes told reporters.

He said that he’s talked recently with Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas about the Stampeders and McMahon Stadium. Calgary is already neck deep in a sports infrastructure project for another CSEC team, the Calgary Flames. Work continues on that building, which is set for a 2027 opening.

“We talked about the Stampeders, and I said, ‘The stadium has passed its shelf life.’ I don’t think that’s a surprise to anybody, and the reality is that we only play there 10 games a year, and so it has to be a stadium that is going to be, in my opinion, anyway, city-led,” he said.

“I think it’s a great thing for the city. I joked the other day, we are still a small, big city, and I think to be a really, really big city, we need a stadium where we can bring more things to it, and it just integrates so well to the entire event district.”

Mayor Farkas said that he supports looking at all potential options. He said that any future site would have to be part of a comprehensive recreational hub – not just a home for the Stamps.

“We have to find a solution for McMahon one way or another, and I would rather that happen sooner than later,” he said.

“Ultimately, if this piece of infrastructure continues to have significant issues around maintenance, we’re going to have a cost to dealing with it regardless.”

Farkas said that he’s spoken in the past, both as a city councillor, mayoral candidate, and now as mayor, that any potential plan has to be a genuine partnership, sharing both the upsides and downsides.

“I think we need to strike a better balance than what we’ve seen in previous deals,” he said.

“But, you know, I’m open to public investment if there’s a public benefit and then a public return on that investment.”