The Calgary Stampede is closing in on the all-time attendance record set 10 years ago.
Officials behind the world’s largest outdoor show announced at a news conference Sunday that 1,331,280 guests visited the Stampede in its first nine days.
The largest fireworks event in history was in 2012, when 1,409,371 people turned out for the 100th anniversary celebration.
Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley said the numbers are something to celebrate, but no attendance goals have been set.
“I set experiential goals,” Cowley said.
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“I firmly believe that we must focus on the qualitative aspect above all else.
“If everyone who comes to Stampede Park during the Calgary Stampede, and frankly throughout the year with our growing convention, Advanced Business, has a great experience, then we’ve succeeded.”
Will Osler, Calgary Stampede president and board chairman, said while “attendance is great,” the most important thing is the customer experience.
“I think we did it right and we did it this year… and when we give our customers that great experience, they will come,” he said.
The 2024 Stampede edition set an attendance record with 201,260 guests attending Tim Hortons Family Day on July 7. 141,053 visitors passed through the park’s gates on TC Energy Day.
Additionally, more than 350,000 people line the streets of Calgary to watch the annual Calgary Stampede Parade.
The Calgary Stampede said it would need 78,091 park visitors on Sunday to break the all-time record.
The Calgary Stampede will return on July 4, 2025.
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